Thailand's premier Thaksin Shinawatra today offered his condolences to Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on the death of his wife, which comes as tensions grow between the neighbours.

"I am sad and sorry for the death of the wife of the Malaysian prime minister. We will send deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai to her burial," Thaksin told a press conference.

Endon Mahmood, Abdullah's wife, died today after a long battle with breast cancer.

Her death came amid tensions between the two nations over the fate of 131 Thai Muslims sheltering in Malaysia, and a war of words over Malaysian activists urging a boycott of Thai goods to protest Bangkok's handling of an insurgency in its Muslim-majority provinces.

Thaksin said he would meet Abdullah at a summit of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in South Korea next month.

Pious, dignified woman

Meanwhile, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also expressed his condolences over Endon's death.

"The president and Madam Ani Yudhoyono had a cordial relationship with Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood and admired her as a woman who was pious, dignified and dedicated to the welfare of Malaysian people and the advancement of Malay culture," the presidential office said in a statement.

Yudhoyono is sending Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab to Malaysia to attend Endon's funeral, the statement said.