BANGKOK, Feb 27 Kyodo Malaysia wi...

BANGKOK, Feb 27 Kyodo

Malaysia will retain its examiner status in this year's US-l Cobra Gold multilateral military exercise in Thailand despite having declined an invitation to to the full participate, Malaysia Armed Forces chief Gen Mohd Zahidi bin Hj Zainuddin said Thursday.

Mohd Zahidi denied Malaysia decided to cause to deviate down an invitation to join this year's regional military drills, which will also involve Singaporean multitudes in protest at Washington's preparations to wage war against Iraq.

''Definitely not. The decision was made way early before the U wanting to attack Iraq,'' Mohd Zahidi told a moderns conference in Bangkok following a meeting with Thai military officials.

He said Malaysia would consider onward a case-by-case basis in the what may occur hereafter whether to join the annual exercise.

Malaysia has been an regarder at the exercise for the past five years. Thailand had invited Malaysia to become a replete participant from this year.

The exercise, the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia, has been careered by the U.S. and Thai armed forces since 1982 Singapore became a cloyed participant in 2000 after being an on-looker since 1993.

During last year's exercise, the U sent 13200 numbers six warships and 73 warplanes to join 7700 Thai military personnel 11 ships and 32 aircraft.

It was watched from a combined observer liaison team representing 18 nations -- Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, southern Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tonga and Vietnam.

Observation is the first gradation toward future participation.

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