Today in Canada Asian Minerals ("AMR"), our largest investment, issued a
statement advising that AMR shareholders had, by a substantial margin, at the
requisitioned meeting held earlier today, confirmed the tenure of the
incumbent Board by defeating a resolution proposed by Vietnam Resource
Investments to remove the board and replace it with its nominees. AMR
shareholders also approved the continuation of the Shareholder Rights Plan.

This is very good news for Widespread Minerals as it ensures that we will
continue to have AMR board representation and that the Ban Phuc nickel
project will continue its present fast track development.

The AMR announcement is repeated below.

For and on behalf of the Board,

Chris D Castle

Onekaka, 9 January 2008

ASIAN MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED ANNOUNCES DEFEAT OF 

DISSIDENT PROPOSAL TO REMOVE INCUMBENT BOARD

Asian Mineral Resources Limited ("AMR" or the "Company") announced today that
shareholders had, by a substantial margin, at the requisitioned meeting held
earlier today, confirmed the tenure of the incumbent Board by defeating a
resolution proposed by Vietnam Resource Investments to remove the board and
replace it with its nominees and approved the continuation of the Shareholder
Rights Plan.  

"We were very pleased with the degree of shareholder support we
received and with the outcome of the meeting" commented Jim Askew, the
Chairman of AMR.  

"With this distraction behind us, the Board and management
can now devote all of their time and energy to AMR's business and focus their
efforts on early development of the Ban Phuc nickel project and other
activities in Vietnam.  We are confident that the results of these efforts
will prove to all our shareholders that the majority of our shareholders did
the right thing by placing their trust and confidence in the incumbent Board
and management and by continuing the Shareholder Rights Plan in force.

"Since receiving the mining license for the Ban Phuc project in December 2007, mine
development has commenced, with the establishment of two portals.  The mobile
equipment required for this underground development has been delivered to the
site from Australia and is being commissioned.  Detail design work for the
processing plant is well advanced and long lead items for this plant have
been ordered.  The project continues to be on schedule for production of
nickel/copper/cobalt concentrate in early 2009.

Company Profile:

Asian Mineral Resources Limited is currently engaged in the exploration and development of
the Vietnamese located Ban Phuc Nickel Project in which it has a 90%
interest.

For further details on the Company and its projects please refer to
the website at www.asianminres.com 

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements."
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein,
including without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization
and reserves, exploration results and future plans and objectives of Asian
Mineral Resources Limited are forward-looking statements that involve various
risks and uncertainties.  There can be no assurance that such statements will
prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements.  Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from Asian Mineral Resources
Limited's expectations are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and
elsewhere in Asian Mineral Resources Limited documents filed from
time-to-time with the TSX Venture Exchange and other regulatory
authorities.