THAIS SAY MYANMAR LEADER TO VISIT IN LATE FEBRUARY

BANGKOK, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The head of Myanmar's military
government, Senior General Than Shwe, is expected to visit Thailand
next month for talks with Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, a Thai Foreign
Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

The visit, which will concentrate on increasing cooperation in
suppression of the narcotics trade, was tentatively scheduled for the
third week of next month, the spokesman said.

Their talks would also cover the establishment of joint naval patrols
and a telephone hotline between the two leaders, he said.

Relations between the Southeast Asian neighbours have been strained
recently by a dispute over fishing which has seen shots exchanged by
naval vessels and fatalities on both sides.

The Bangkok newspaper The Nation quoted Chuan as saying governors of
border provinces should look for ways to reduce tension. He also
warned Thai fishermen not to intrude into Myanmar's territorial waters.

Earlier this month, Thai narcotics officials said drugs cartels had
resumed large shipments, through Thailand, of heroin from the Golden
Triangle growing region after a three-year lull.

Heroin from the Triangle -- a poppy growing area where the borders of
Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet -- is said by anti-narcotics experts
to be refined along the Thai-Myanmar border.