Over 10,000 forces to safeguard ASEAN Summit

PHNOM PENH - More than 10,000 security forces will be deployed in capital Phnom Penh in order to ensure security and safety for foreign leaders attending the 21st ASEAN Summit and related Summits next week, Lt. Gen. Kirt Chantharith, spokesman for the National Police, said Sunday.

"Over 10,000 police, military police, and bodyguards had been trained for months ahead of the Summits and they will be deployed in the city from next week to safeguard foreign delegates," he told Xinhua over telephone. "We will use all security measures to ensure full security and safety for the forthcoming meetings."

The forces will be deployed at the capital's airport, the Peace Palace, streets, hotels, and guesthouses, he said, adding that at night, there will be routine patrols and search for weapons and explosions among passengers.

Cambodia will host the 21st ASEAN Summit and related Summits from November 18-20 at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

The Summits will bring together all ASEAN leaders and dialogue country leaders including newly re-elected US President Barack Obama, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

Founded in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.