Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad arrived in Thailand today for talks as a worsening Islamic insurgency in southern Thailand continues to batter relations between the two countries.

The private visit, which includes a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, comes as three more people were killed in the daily violence that has gripped the three Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia.

A key point in the discussions is expected to be the flight of 131 Thai Muslims to Malaysia in August, which has hurt ties between the neighbours.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi offered on Saturday to do all he could to resolve the lingering row, saying "We want to help in any way we can," after a meeting with Thaksin in South Korea.

Not faded into retirement

Mahathir, who after two years has not faded quietly into retirement, said in September that Malaysia should offer asylum to the Thai Muslims.

He also called on Thailand to give autonomy to the southern provinces - a suggestion that Thai leaders have rejected.

Security analysts have said the situation in southern Thailand, where more than 1,000 people have died in the unrest since January 2004, could spread and destabilise southeast Asia if not properly handled.

In the latest violence, unidentified assailants fired shotguns and assault rifles into several houses in a rubber plantation in Yala province's Than To district Sunday night, killing Boonjeau Saengpakdi, 55, and his wife Arom Pananag, 48.

Villager Somjai Khamkerd, 58, was also killed while his 22-year-old nephew, Suchart Jankul, was wounded in the attack.

Another villager, Sathien Supanam, 43, was shot and wounded.