Thailand's foreign ministry said Saturday it has formally protested remarks by Malaysia's foreign minister, who said his country wanted assurance over the rights of 131 Thai Muslims who fled across the border.

Ambassador Shaarani bin Ibrahim was summoned Friday to meet with Nopadol Gunavibool, the head of the East Asian affairs department at the Thai foreign ministry, the statement said.

During the meeting, Nopadol protested statements by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who told reporters earlier this week that his country would need to be assured that human rights were respected in Thailand's violence-plagued south before the 131 Thai Muslims could be returned.

"The reported statement by the Malaysian foreign minister on the human rights of the 131 persons are inappropriate because it amounts to an interference in Thailand's internal affairs," the ministry said in a statement.

"In particular, the standard of human rights in Thailand is second to none in the region, and certainly no less than the standard in Malaysia," it said.

"In addition, the remarks would also encourage the 131 persons to distrust their own government, contrary to the shared objective of both countries to cooperate in resolving this issue," it added.

The Thai Muslims, mostly from the southern Narathiwat province, crossed into Malaysia in late August saying they feared for their lives in the region, which is in the grip of an Islamic insurgency and other violence.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has asked Malaysia to hand over suspected militants believed to be among the group, which includes women and children.

Not illegal immigrants

"But to hand over anyone, we need to be satisfied that everything pertaining to human rights, due process and rule of law is complied with. We need to be certain of that," Syed Hamid Albar told reporters Wednesday.

"They are not illegal immigrants. They say they are fleeing what is happening in Thailand."

Malaysian deputy prime minister Najib Razak said the previous week that the country would not release the refugees to Thailand unless it received an assurance their rights would not be violated by the Thai government.

The UN refugee agency has interviewed the group, but has yet to reveal its findings.

Since January 2004 southern Thailand has been rocked by more than 950 deaths. Authorities blame the violence on a complex web of Islamic separatists, organised crime and local corruption.