DENPASAR - RABIES is on the rise on the Indonesian resort island of Bali and has left 12 people dead despite mass dog culls aimed at reining in an outbreak threatening the tourist industry.

The number of districts affected by the potentially fatal disease has more than tripled since August after first appearing in two districts in November last year, provincial veterinary agency chief Ida Bagus Alit told AFP.

JAKARTA - INDONESIAN navy special forces are holding a 24-day joint exercise with elite troops from the United States navy on Sumatra island, a spokesman said Tuesday.

The exercise, which started Monday on the coast of Lampung province, involves about 60 personnel from the US Navy Seals and Indonesia's Kopaska amphibious special forces, western fleet spokesman Supriyono told AFP.

BANGKOK - THAKSIN Shinawatra's visit to Phnom Penh benefits both the ousted Thai leader and his Cambodian host, but could drag the two countries back into a simmering border conflict, analysts said.

Golfing buddies in their spare time, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Mr Thaksin are using the row over the ex-Thai PM's appointment as an economic adviser to settle scores with the current Thai government, they said.