US President George W. Bush intensified moves to the "war on terror" at the heart of a Pacific Rim summit today despite the resentment of some Asian nations who want to focus on free trade talks.
Mr Bush is seeking practical as well as diplomatic support in his campaign against terror while at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Thailand.
"This is still a dangerous world," Mr Bush said yesterday, using the latest threats on a tape purportedly made by Osama bin Laden to bolster his case for greater co-operation by a grouping that has traditionally focused on economic issues.
His argument that terrorism poses "a direct and profound" challenge to freeing trade and increasing prosperity is already at the heart of the declaration being drafted for issue at the end of the two-day summit tomorrow.
The final draft is expected to say the 21 members agree to "dismantle, fully and without delay, transnational terrorist groups that threaten APEC economies."
It calls for increased security co-ordination, tighter controls at ports and a campaign to stop militants moving money around the world.
It says the leaders promise to discuss such issues at future meetings "and to take specific actions."
Although the draft also refers strongly to promoting trade, some in Asia were clearly unhappy at the emphasis on security.
They were led by outspoken Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who told reporters: "APEC was formed as an economic co-operation group. But we don't agree [to] taking away economic matters into security, military or politics."
"If the talks go beyond economic issues, we don't want to see the relationship among members in the forum deteriorate," said Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose country has long been a close US ally.