Malaysia supports Thai crackdown
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PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (CNN) -- Malaysia has pledged full support for Thailand's crackdown on Islamic separatists along their border at a meeting between the leaders of the two countries.
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.
At least 60 people have died this year during an outbreak of violence in the area, which thrived for centuries as an independent Islamic empire before annexation by Thailand around a century ago.
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 attacks in Thailand.
