Myanmar pulls warships from disputed waters: Bangladesh

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081106/wl_asia_afp/bangladeshmyanmarsecurityenergygas_081106061509

Thu Nov 6, 1:15 am ET AFP/File – File photo shows a a Bangladeshi warship taking part in a multinational naval exercise. Myanmar withdrew … CHITTAGONG (AFP) – Myanmar withdrew two warships from the Bay of Bengal Thursday after a four-day standoff with neighbouring Bangladesh over mineral-rich disputed waters, a Bangladeshi naval official said.

The tension between the two countries began after Myanmar sent warships to support a Korean company drilling some 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Bangladesh's Saint Martin Island.


Bangladesh immediately deployed four warships to the area and warned it would take "all possible measures" to protect its sovereignty.

"Myanmar has withdrawn two warships," a senior Bangladesh Navy officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

"It's a positive response. There is now very little tension. The four other ships engaged there for exploration activities are also preparing to back out. Their drilling works have already been stopped.

"We will also withdraw our vessels as soon as they remove drilling ships," he added.

An Armed Forces spokesman confirmed the development to AFP.

Bangladesh foreign minister Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury flew to Myanmar on Thursday for talks on the row.

An official from Myanmar's military government said the country was open to talks, but insisted that oil and gas companies were operating inside its own territory and far away from the disputed sea boundary.

The official, who refused to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media, claimed that other countries were meddling in the spat, and implied that the United States had a hand in the dispute.

Myanmar has discovered huge reserves of natural gas in the Bay of Bengal and has made it clear it intends to explore further.

The two countries have held a series of meetings in the past year aimed at resolving the dispute over their maritime boundary.