SINGAPORE (AP) - Malaysia called on July 12 for a world conference on ways to

improve U.N. peacekeeping operations, such as making sure that participating troops

meet certain standards.

Malaysian defense minister Najib Abdul Razak also suggested southeast Asian nations

list their weaponry on an arms register as a step toward developing confidence among

their neighbors.

Najib said the conference on peacekeeping should take up "the actual day-to-day

running and management of U.N. forces."

"Above all, the recruiting of forces from various nations must meet certain

minimum standards. They must not send those who do not meet these standards. This

is a direct experience from Cambodia," he said.

Najib, however, did not name any countries he felt had sent substandard troops.

Najib said U.N. forces needed a proper decision-making process to carry out operations,

less bureaucratic administrative machinery, standard operating procedures and a "mechanism

to respond immediately, as any delay could lost lives."