Bangladesh, Myanmar hold talks to defuse sea row

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh and Myanmar foreign ministers held talks in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Wednesday to solve a territorial dispute in the Bay of Bengal.

Tension between the two countries was sparked last month when Yangon started exploring for gas and oil in the disputed sea stretch. Both countries continue to keep their troops along their common border.

A Bangladesh foreign ministry statement said the country's Foreign Adviser (minister) Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Myanmar Foreign Minister U. Nyan Win met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers conference in New Delhi.

"We agreed to continue high-level contacts including a meeting between the two heads of the governments," the statement quoted Chowdhury as saying.

Bangladesh pulled back naval ships from the disputed water after Myanmar stopped the exploration, following intense diplomatic efforts by Dhaka.

Myanmar started the exploration early this month, defying protests by Bangladesh, in a sea zone that both countries claim.

Both the countries share a 320 km (200 mile) border, partly demarcated by the river Naf.

Officials said the dispute would also be discussed when technical delegations from both sides meet in Dhaka on Nov. 16 and 17. The two neighbours have been discussing this for years but without reaching an agreement.