SingTel CEO says Bharti/MTN talks at early stage

SINGAPORE, May 14 (Reuters) - Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Southeast Asia's largest phone company, said takeover talks between its Indian unit Bharti (BRTI.BO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and South African phone firm MTN (MTNJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) were at a very early stage.

SingTel Chief Executive Chua Sock Koong told a results briefing that the talks were "at an extremely preliminary, exploratory stage".

Lim Chuan Poh, chief executive of SingTel's international operations, said it was too early to determine if Bharti would make a bid for MTN. (Reporting by Jennifer Tan & Jan Dahinten)