The leaders of Malaysia and Thailand met today to thrash out a response to escalating violence by Islamic separatists near the border and targeted the eradication of poverty as a prime concern.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pledged to cooperate with his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra in stamping out the attacks which have killed at least 60 people in Thailand's deep south since January.

"We view it with serious concern. He has sought my cooperation and I said I intend to cooperate with him," Abdullah told a news conference after meeting Thaksin in Putrajaya, the administrative capital south of Kuala Lumpur.

"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" he said.

Abdullah said development in the border areas and the eradication of poverty were key to solving the problem "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."

Joint strategy

Thaksin said "an important aspect in facing these common challenges 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."

At least 60 people, mainly security personnel and government officials, have been killed in violence that has plagued Thailand's deep south since early January.

Thaksin and his lieutenants have blamed the unrest on Islamic separatist groups, some of which are thought by analysts to have links to regional or international terror networks. - AFP