Malaysia deployed hundreds of police backed by helicopters and rolled out tight security today as it prepared to host US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and dozens of other ministers.

Some 634 Malaysian police will be securing the capital Kuala Lumpur where Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers will meet on Tuesday ahead of Asia's top security forum which convenes on Thursday.

Ministers from 26 nations including Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea are expected to attend the Asean Regional Forum (ARF).

Police helicopters have been buzzing the venue of the talks, the ultra-modern Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) which is next to the city's iconic Petronas Twin Towers - until recently the world's tallest building.

The KLCC police operations headquarters said the venue had been locked down today as the Southeast Asian foreign ministers began flying in for the talks.

"All entrances to the convention centre have been closed for the time being, only one entrance and exit points are left open. These are under tight security," said an officer at the headquarters.

"We have body scanners to make sure no one carries anything dangerous into the area," he said.

Expect horrific traffic jams

The officer said the number of police on duty could be stepped up to ensure the tightest possible precautions when Rice arrives in Malaysia.

"As usual there will be police escorts and other security measures taken for such high-profile officials like Condoleezza Rice," he said.

"We don't expect any trouble as Malaysians are generally well behaved," he added.

Ordinary commuters were braced for horrific traffic jams when police close down major city thoroughfares to ensure the delegates arrive at the venue unhindered by rush-hour traffic.

The forum is expected to tackle a number of issues, including the North Korean missile crisis and frustration over the lack of democratic reforms in Myanmar.

Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.