Manhunt for fugitive scaled down

SINGAPORE: Singapore's security forces will scale back a nationwide ground search for a top Muslim terror suspect who made a stunning escape from a high-security prison a month ago, the deputy prime minister said yesterday.

Troops hunting for Mas Selamat Kastari, who allegedly once plotted to hijack an airplane and crash it into the city-state's international airport, will start "targeted and focused searches based on specific intelligence and leads," said Wong Kan Seng.

He gave no reason for the change in tactics. But efforts to track down Mas Selamat have no doubt been costly. Police, special operations officers, elite Gurkha guards and soldiers have been combing the island nation's forests since his embarrassing Feb 27 jail break. Security also has been tightened at land, air and sea checkpoints.