BANGKOK, Nov 24 — The Lao government is "profoundly saddened" by the deaths of foreign tourists from drinking alcohol contaminated with methanol and pledged to prosecute those responsible.

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 1 — Thirty-three deaths due to methanol poisoning were recorded from Sept 9 to 30 this year, out of 55 ethanol poisoning cases reported, said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.