DHAKA (AFP)--Bangladesh has deployed more troops along its border with Myanmar, a military official said late Saturday, as tensions between the two countries simmer over a disputed stretch of water.
Colonel Mohammad Anisuzzaman, of the border Bangladesh Rifles, told AFP that extra troops had been deployed in the past two days along the 271-kilometer (168-mile) border it shares with military-ruled Myanmar.
"Because of what is happening in the Bay of Bengal we have taken precautionary measures along the border. We have intensified the presence of our troops there and they are on high alert," he said.
Myanmar has also sent soldiers to the border, a senior Bangladeshi border official told AFP.
Talks between the two countries have failed to resolve the dispute, which began six days ago when Myanmar instructed the Korean company Daewoo International Corp. (047050.SE) to begin drilling in a disputed mineral-rich area.
Bangladesh says it has had assurances from the company and the South Korean government that work is winding up, but Myanmar, which has discovered huge reserves of natural gas in the Bay of Bengal, insists its exploration work is legal.
More talks between the two nations are due to be held in Dhaka on Nov. 16 and 17.
Tensions flared when Myanmar sent warships to support Daewoo drilling some 50 kilometers south of Bangladesh's Saint Martin Island.
Bangladesh immediately deployed four warships to the area.
Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/al?rnd=T%2FTO2Y5Sel8mL8G1fy6EOg%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 08, 2008 13:05 ET (18:05 GMT)

Publié le 08 novembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones