Two Southeast Asian countries at loggerheads during the Vietnam War are coordinating their security operations. On Monday Laotian Minister of Public Security Thong Banh Semaphore arrived in Phnom Penh for a five-day official visit to Cambodia.

Laotian security forces are regarded as having one of the world's most oppressive human rights records, particularly as regards their persecution of Christians, who make up an estimated 15 percent of the country's population.

The Laotian government considers Christianity to be a violation of the country's indigenous religious traditions and an "imperialist foreign religion" backed by Western political interests, particularly the United States.

In its 2003 report the U.S. Commission of International Religious Freedom for the fourth year in a row recommended that Laos be designated as a "country of particular concern."

Hmong tribal members are also subjected to severe harassment by Laotian security forces. Laos is Southeast Asia's least developed country.

Agence Kampuchea Presse reported that Thong will meet with Cambodian Ministry of the Interior top officials to finalize an agreement on bilateral cooperation on issues involving illegal immigration, human trafficking, drugs and terrorism.