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	Environmentalists say the Xayaburi dam in northern Laos would have detrimental effects on wildlife and residents&#39; livelihoods. The Mekong River Commission, of which Laos is a member, called for the project to be delayed by 10 years to allow environmental research, but construction and the resettlement of villages have proceeded, the WWF said.</div>
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	The WWF was included in a delegation of foreign diplomats and experts taken to the dam site last week to be briefed on the Thai contractor&#39;s plans to mitigate the impact on fisheries and sediment flows.</div>
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	&quot;While Laos&#39; decision to host a visit to the dam site is positive,it&#39;s clear construction is advancing,&quot; said Jian-hua Meng, the WWF&#39;s sustainable hydropower specialist, who joined the delegation.//DPA</div>

Conservation group calls for regional stance against Lao dam

Laos' construction work on the first dam on the lower Mekong River requires a strong response from neighbouring countries to delay the project, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said Tuesday.