US signs terror treaty in Asia

THE United States and a bloc of Southeast Asian nations have agreed on a sweeping anti-terrorism treaty intended to plug security holes, boost US aid to the region and free the United States to more easily confront terrorists there.

Secretary of State Colin Powell signed the pact yesterday with the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, whose region has become a second front in the war against al-Qaida and other international terrorists.

Mr Powell wants the treaty to lead to a substantial upgrading of security in the region, a senior US official said yesterday.