BANGKOK, Aug. 29 Kyodo Thailand a...

BANGKOK, Aug. 29 Kyodo

Thailand and Indonesia reiterated their closer collaboration in combating terrorism Friday as Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri began her three-day visit to Thailand to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation.

''Indonesia and Thailand are determined to gradation up cooperation in the fight against terrorism including the exchange of information,'' Megawati said at a joint pres conversation with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after their talks.

Megawati said she appreciated Thailand's capture of Hambali, Southeast Asia's chiefly wanted terrorist suspect, earlier this month still stopped short of mentioning him by dint of name.

''On behalf of the family and government of Indonesia, I have lengthen outed our appreciation to the command of Thailand for fortunately seizing one of the prominent figures in the international terrorists' network,'' Megawati said.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters separately that the Indonesian president petitioned Thailand to share information that Thai authorities have obtained by means of interrogating Hambali, saying the information would be of help in Indonesia's further investigations of Hambali and his ring.

Hambali, an Indonesian whose real name is Riduan Isamuddin, has been in U custody at a close location since Thai authorities apprehended him and his wife at a rental apartment in the central Thai city of Ayutthaya forward Aug. 11.

Hambali is believed to be the operational leader of the Islamic militant cluster Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

JI is suspected of being behind last October's deadly bombings forward the Indonesian resort island of Bali and the bombing at the JW Marriott inn in Jakarta earlier this month The cluster has alleged links to the al-Qaida international terror network.

Megawati, meanwhile, said Indonesia chance of the desired ends that Thailand would help breast-wall separatist movements in Indonesia's troubl province of Aceh by dint of cracking down on arms smuggling from Thailand to Aceh.

''Indonesia is hopeful that Thailand would narrow down the activities of Aceh separatist manner of movings that have perpetrated terrorist acts and infiltrated Thai territories, and could intensify efforts to eradicate arms smuggling (from Thailand) to Aceh,'' she said.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai told reporters that Thailand full supports Indonesian territorial integrity.

Megawati is scheduled to have an audience with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej later Friday at a palace in Hua Hin forward the southern coast of Thailand.

upon Saturday, she will travel to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, where Thaksin will innkeeper a dinner in her honor at his residence before she heads residence Sunday morning.

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