Malaysia pledged full support for Thailand's crackdown on Islamic separatists along their border at a meeting between the leaders of the two countries today.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told a news conference after talks with his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra that Malaysia was totally opposed to terrorism.

The two men singled out economic development and the eradication of poverty in Thailand's marginalised mainly-Muslim deep south along the Malaysian border as a key element of a long-term strategy to deal with the problem.

At least 60 people have been killed this year in violence that has plagued the area, which thrived for centuries as an independent Islamic empire before annexation by Thailand around a hundred years ago.

Thaksin has blamed the unrest on Islamic separatist groups, some of which allegedly have links to the regional Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorist group responsible for the Bali bombings in neighbouring Indonesia that killed more than 200 people in October 2002.

A flood of funds from Wahhabi fundamentalists in Saudi Arabia is also sparking fears that the south could become more influenced by JI and Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, to which the regional group already has ties.

Positive approach

"We view (the situation) with serious concern," Abdullah said after his talks with Thaksin. "He has sought my cooperation and I said I intend to cooperate with him.

"Terrorism is something that we totally oppose. We stand together against terrorists, criminals, drug pedlars and other groups that are causing instability and trouble to both coutries."

Abdullah said the eradication of poverty was an important element in ending the violence "so that people along the border will have no cause to be instigated to resort to certain acts that will be against the law.

"This positive approach of joint development along the border, I think, is going to be an effort that we will pursue for many years to come. Things cannot be done overnight, but efforts must be made to show some concrete results."

Thaksin told the news conference that "an important aspect in facing these common challeneges together is the joint development strategy for the border area."

The meeting with Abullah had been held "with all candour as friends do, in all cordiality and excellent understanding," he said.

"We were of the same mind in our analysis of the complex nature of the causes and remedies needed to address it. We are confident that with that spirit and the closeness of cooperation at all levels we can confront and overcome whatever common challenges that remain."

In contrast

The friendly words were in contrast to sharp exchanges in recent weeks, when Malaysia expressed irritation over Thaksin's charges that it was harbouring separatists who fled after striking targets within Thailand.

The two men took no questions from journalists before heading to lunch together, but Abdullah has promised a news conference later in the day.

Among issues expected to be raised during the talks was the question of militants who allegedly hold dual Thai-Malaysian nationality.

The militants are accused of carrying out a March 27 bombing in a Thai border town which wounded 28 people, including eight Malaysian tourists. The bombing was the first attack on civilians since the violence erupted.

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation but about five percent of the population is Muslim and most live in the five southern provinces bordering Malaysia fundamentalist Muslim heartland.

The region was plagued by separatist violence until the 1980s when the government managed to curb militant activity, but in the last few years violence has flared again. - AFP