Manila, Canberra begin talks on security pact

MANILA, Nov 8 (Reuters) The Philippines and Australia are hoping to forge a security agreement next month that will allow Australian troops to hold anti-terrorism drills in the Southeast Asian nation, diplomats and defence officials said today.

Senior officials from the two countries begin formal treaty negotiations for a status of forces agreement (SOFA) on Thursday in Canberra ahead of Australian Prime Minister John Howard's trip to the Philippines in December for the East Asia Summit.

''We're doing our best to seal a strategic security pact with Australia as soon as possible because they promised to help us tighten our porous maritime borders in the south,'' said a senior defence official, who declined to be named.

''We're not trying to rush things, but it would be a good idea to have the agreement signed when the Australian leader comes for a visit on Dec 13 during the East Asia Summit meetings.'' Canberra, which has shown deep concern over the activities of Islamic militants in the southern Philippines since the 2002 Bali bombings, already provides training for about 60 Filipino troops a year in Australia.

A handful of Australian police officers is based in Manila to train counterparts in bomb-investigation and best practices in identifying, tracking and arresting suspected Islamic militants.

It has also promised to pour money, materials and training modules to help the Philippine security forces tighten its porous maritime borders in the south to check movements of people, small arms and illegal goods on Mindanao island.

Australia has said it was not negotiating to set up military bases in the Philippines and take part in anti-terror operations to pre-empt potential Islamic militant attacks on its soil.

Canberra has allocated nearly 0 million since 2003 to help its poorer Southeast Asian neighbours fight the spread of Islamic militancy under a four-year regional counter-terrorism programme.

REUTERS SSC VV1516