Cambodia crisis:
Asean could delay admission

A SPECIAL meeting of foreign ministers of Asean in Kuala Lumpur July 10 will review the situation.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Abdullah Badawi, in his capacity as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (Asean) Standing Committee, called for an immediate cease-fire and a peaceful resolution of the differences between the two premiers.

Political analysts said a review of all aspects of the situation opened the door to the possibility of Asean delaying the planned admission of Cambodia as a member of the organisation this month.

On May 31, Asean foreign ministers voted to admit Cambodia, Laos and Burma simultaneously as new members at the annual Asean Ministerial Meeting, which begins in Kuala Lumpur on July 23.

But the seizure of power by Second Prime Minister Hun Sen in the absence of his rival, First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, has forced the foreign ministers to take another look at their May 31 decision.

Although Malaysia has been strongly opposed to delaying the entry of the three countries, the Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, said the Malaysian Foreign Minister had been asked to study with his counterparts the possibility of a change in Asean's position.

In Singapore, The Straits Times, which often reflects government thinking, said the clashes in Phnom Penh made a case for postponement of Cambodia's entry into Asean.