Southeast Asian nations were due to sign a declaration on Thursday with Secretary of State Colin Powell to fight militant networks ahead of his visit to Indonesia, seen as the weak link in the region's so-called war on terrorism
Foreign ministers from the 10 Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States pledge in the declaration to share intelligence, block terrorist funds, tighten borders and make it tougher to use forged travel papers.

Powell was to hold talks with ministers before signing the document, capping a week-long meeting that focused on battling terrorism amid concerns that Indonesia is not doing enough to root out militants across its vast archipelago.

Powell, who heads to Jakarta late on Thursday, said earlier this week he was carrying ideas and initiatives to help President Megawati Sukarnoputri fight militancy at home and hinted that Washington was ready to consider military cooperation.

The United States cut military ties with Jakarta, including officer training and arms sales, in 1999 when the Indonesian military was implicated in violence in East Timor after the territory voted for independence.

This week Singapore and the Philippines urged the United States to restore military ties with Indonesia.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda on Tuesday defended his country's record in fighting terrorism, saying they were doing all they could and had arrested suspected terrorists but that it was wrong to equate radical groups with terrorists.

PHOTO CAPTION

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (R) shares a light moment with Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha (L) and China's Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan during an audience with Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the palace in Bandar Seri Begawan August 1, 2002. Powell, Sinha and Tang are in Brunei attending a gathering of Southeast Asian foreign ministers with some of their counterparts from around the world. (Bazuki Muhammad/Reuters)