The Australian government will next week launch its first training programme at a new Southeast Asian counter-terrorism centre in Malaysia, the embassy here said today.

Twenty-five officials from nine countries will take part in the programme, "which will provide advanced training in document examination," the embassy said in a statement.

"This cooperation reflects our shared determination to work together to eliminate international terrorism," said acting High Commissioner (ambassador) Simon Merrifield.

"It reinforces the excellent cooperation Australia has developed with regional countries in fighting this threat."

'Deputy sheriff'

The main threat in the region comes from the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist network, which was responsible for the Bali bombings in Indonesia which killed 202 people, 88 of them Australians, nearly two years ago.

The programme will be held at the US-backed Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism, which was established in Kuala Lumpur last year and focuses on capacity-building, human resources development and exchange of information.

Australia's involvement is another sign of improved ties with Malaysia since the retirement of former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who led resistance to Canberra's attempts to play a role in Southeast Asian economic and political forums.

He dismissed Australia as the "deputy sheriff" of the United States and not truly Asian, but relations have improved markedly since Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over last October.