The United Nations refugee agency said that it would announce if the 131 Thai Muslims sheltering in Malaysia required UN protection by the end of next week.

"The material gathered during the interview is now being compiled, assessed, cross-checked and reviewed. At the earliest, the preliminary finds may be ready at the end of next week," Ron Redmond, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement.

The undocumented Thai Muslims crossed into Malaysia's northern Kelantan state late last month, saying they feared for their lives in restive southern Thailand, and triggering a diplomatic spat between the neighbours.

Among the displaced people were 61 men and 21 women, including one who was pregnant, as well as 49 children aged from five months to 17 years. They are being held at the Tanah Merah immigration centre in Kelantan state.

The UNHCR said a team of 11 UN staff interviewed the Thai Muslims to establish the circumstances behind the flight of the group to Malaysia on August 30, and assess their humanitarian and protection needs.

Temporary shelter

Mainly-Muslim Malaysia has given temporary shelter to the Thais pending the investigation of their status and reasons for leaving, but has voiced concern over the prospect of more fleeing across the border.

Thailand had urged the UNHCR not to take up the case of the Thai Muslims, saying that Muslim militants were among them and that the others had been tricked into crossing the border in order to internationalise the issue.

Nearly 900 people have been killed in the past 20 months in Thailand's southernmost provinces, in attacks which analysts and authorities blame on Islamic separatists, organised criminals and drug dealers.