ATHENS - The European Union welcomed the release of six activists detained by the country's authorities for more than two years under a controversial security law.

"The European Union welcomes the release by the Malaysian authorities on 1 and 12 June of six political activists detained since April 2001 under the Internal Security Act (ISA)," the bloc's Greek Presidency said in a written statement yesterday.

The government on June 12 released the last of six opposition activists detained without trial for two years following allegations they planned to overthrow the government.

New law welcomed

The EU also welcomed the Malaysian government's statement to consider reviewing the ISA with a view to repealing it, as demanded by the country's national human rights commission (Suhakam).

"The European Union also welcomes the readiness of the Malaysian government to consider the conclusions of the recent review of the ISA produced by... the Malaysian National Human Rights Commmission which calls, inter alia, for the repeal of the ISA and the enactment of new legislation in line with relevant United Nations principles and instruments," the text added.

"The European Union looks forward to a review of the present modalities of recourse to ISA," the EU statement concluded. - AFP