BANGKOK - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will raise the issue of violence in southern Thailand with his Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he visits this week, a Thai government spokesman said today.

Abdullah on Friday will pay his first official visit to Thailand since he took over from Mahathir Mohamad in October last year.

Thaksin is expected to brief Abdullah on last week's brazen attacks in the Muslim-majority deep south bordering Malaysia, which left six people dead and 18 schools burned.

"During the private discussions, Prime Minister Thaksin will raise the problem of border demarcation and dual citizenship. Thailand wants Malaysia to quickly tackle these problems, which could help lead to the solving of the unrest in the south," Jakrapob Penkair told reporters.

Jakrapob described the trip as a one-day familiarisation visit.

Joint border patrols

Malaysia and Thailand began joint border patrols today after the attacks in southern Thailand following warnings from Thai authorities that the perpetrators of the violence may try to slip across the rugged jungle border.

The joint patrols were originally planned for early March but were brought forward following the attacks in Thailand's Narathiwat province that left four soldiers dead and a bomb explosion which killed two policemen in neighbouring Pattani.

The Thai government has made conflicting statements over who may be responsible for the attacks, blaming bandits, separatist groups and Islamic militants.

Thailand's deep south, which borders mainly-Muslim Malaysia, has seen a spate of violent attacks against police and the military, including the killings of 20 people since April 2003.

Other topics on Abdullah's agenda in Thailand include the plan to develop Thailand's three impoverished neighbours Cambodia, Laos and Burma, as well as the spectre of international terrorism, the situation in Iraq and tensions on the Korean peninsula, the spokesman said.

Abdullah was also due to be granted a royal audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Friday evening at the revered monarch's palace in the coastal town of Hua Hin. - AFP