DECISION ON M`SIANS IN GUANTANAMO BAY TO BE KNOWN SOON

SEPANG, May 18 (Bernama) -- The fate of two Malaysians currently held at the
Guantanamo Bay detention centre will be known by end of this month, Foreign
Minister Anifah Aman said.

Speaking to reporters at the KL International Airport on his return from a
two-day visit to Washington, Anifah said the matter was among issues he
discussed with United States state secretary Hillary Clinton.

"Clinton told me that the matter would be looked into as soon as possible
and I have given an assurance that the two would be charged in Malaysian court
if there are evidence to do so," he said when asked on his meeting with Clinton
on Friday.

He said the meeting took place in a cordial manner where they discussed
specific issues such as the conflict in Gaza and piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

"We also discussed bilateral issues including trade, education and security
matters," he said.

Anifah said he had also conveyed Malaysia's experience in tackling piracy in
the Strait of Melaka and that Malaysia could also contribute to the efforts in
tackling similar problem in the Gulf of Aden.

He said Clinton welcomed Malaysia's offer and invited the country to send
participants to attend dialogue sessions with other countries to tackle the
problem.

Anifah said he had also conveyed Malaysia's firm stand on the conflict in
Gaza and called on the super power to handle the issue in a sincere and
dignified manner.

"I conveyed to her that if the US is able to solve the problem then the
world, especially the Muslim countries, will respect the country," he said.

In another development, Anifah was also asked on his spat with opposition
leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Anifah said it was a trivial matter.

"He is not my priority. As a Foreign Minister, I have many other more
important things to do. It's not a problem for me if he wants to take legal
action. This is a trivial matter," he said.

Anwar is threatening to sue Anifah if the latter failed to apologise over
the statement he made in Washington that Anwar had offered him the deputy prime
minister's post to jump into the opposition.
-- BERNAMA