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Asian defence chiefs meet in Singapore
Singapore, May 30: Defence ministers and military chiefs from Asia, including India and key western powers arrived in Singapore today for three days of talks amid tight security designed to protect them from possible terrorist attacks and a new enemy- Sars.
Singapore, May 30: Defence ministers and military chiefs from Asia, including India and key western powers arrived in Singapore today for three days of talks amid tight security designed to protect them from possible terrorist attacks and a new enemy- Sars.
Fever-detecting thermal cameras scanned everyone entering the lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel where the Asian security conference is taking place to ensure they were not infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome.
US Deputy Secretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz, British Defence Minister Geoff Hoon and Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill were scheduled to attend along with counterparts from Japan, India and Southeast Asia.
The conference is expected to focus on the North Korean nuclear standoff, the threat of international terrorism and recent declarations by the United States and Australia that they would pre-emptively attack other countries to stop an imminent terrorist attack.
Layers of police checkpoints were set up in Singapore's shopping district around the hotel where ministers, intelligence chiefs and military leaders from 20 countries were scheduled to meet.
"The Singapore government has been quite remarkable in the way which they have taken additional measures. To not only ensure the physical security, but also the health and safety of the participants at this meeting," said John Chipman, the conference's organizer and director of the London-based international institute for strategic studies.
Bureau Report
US Deputy Secretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz, British Defence Minister Geoff Hoon and Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill were scheduled to attend along with counterparts from Japan, India and Southeast Asia.
The conference is expected to focus on the North Korean nuclear standoff, the threat of international terrorism and recent declarations by the United States and Australia that they would pre-emptively attack other countries to stop an imminent terrorist attack.
Layers of police checkpoints were set up in Singapore's shopping district around the hotel where ministers, intelligence chiefs and military leaders from 20 countries were scheduled to meet.
"The Singapore government has been quite remarkable in the way which they have taken additional measures. To not only ensure the physical security, but also the health and safety of the participants at this meeting," said John Chipman, the conference's organizer and director of the London-based international institute for strategic studies.
Bureau Report