Thai supreme commander Gen Worapong Sanganetr announced the Thai army will withdraw troops from the southernmost region starting April, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

Gen Worapong said after a meeting with armed forces’ commanders of the north, central and northeast regions yesterday that troop withdrawals will be carried out according to plans made earlier.

The government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to negotiate with insurgent groups in the three southern provinces.

The southernmost region including three border provinces and four districts in Songkhla province has experienced conflicts due to violence since January 2004.

Government statistics show violence in the south has resulted in over 6,000 deaths and 10,600 people injured over the past decade.

- Bernama