SINGAPORE, Dec 20 Kyodo Singapore...

SINGAPORE, Dec 20 Kyodo

Singapore and Thailand are planning to place air marshals in succession flights between the pair countries to deter terrorists, Singapore's delegate Prime Minister Tony Tan said Saturday.

''We are...putting in place arrangements to have air marshals upon board flights between Thailand and Singapore,'' Tan, who is also coordinating minister for Security and Defense said in Indonesia where he is forward a visit this week.

He said Singapore will also be discussing with Indonesia the possibility of implementing the scheme in succession board flights between the brace countries.

''I think (Indonesia) recognizes that this is a virtuous move. It doesn't threaten Indonesia at all,'' Tan said, according to a transcript of expositions he made when interviewed according to journalists in Indonesia that was released Saturday at Singapore's ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.

''There are a technicalities, which have to be resolv on the contrary I am confident that any difficulties will be ironed disclosed because air marshals will be a feature of the international aviation scheme before excessively long.''

In Indonesia, Tan met with President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Dorodjatun Kuntorojakti, and Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

undivided of the main issues during his meetings with Indonesian leaders was cooperation between the sum of two units countries, especially in the area of security and defense

Tan said Singapore and Indonesia's ministries of transport and to one's home affairs and police will be meeting to work abroad the details so that the scheme can be activated within a not many months.

Singapore has already signed an agreement with Australia for air marshals in succession board flights between the couple countries. The two are anticipateed to have undercover air marshals armed with astonish guns or silencers aboard SIA and Qantas flights onward the busy Singapore-Australia way soon, probably before Christmas.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo freshs International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group