Muslims “back Thai support for US’

BANGKOK (AFP): Transportation and Communications Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha said yesterday that after talks with Muslim leaders in southern provinces, the government had won their support in joining the US-led alliance against terrorism. Wan said he had explained the government’s position and its reasons for aligning with the United States. “There are no problems,” he told reporters. “We have a common view against terrorism and all that concerns [the Muslim leaders] is what the government’s next step will be.” Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dispatched the Muslim minister to the five southern provinces bordering Malaysia amid reports that overseas militant groups were urging Muslims worldwide to wage a holy war. Wan said the government would hold off from making a decision on its exact involvement as long as it could.