BANGKOK: Thailand's army-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said on Friday that Malaysia had helped the kingdom make some progress in opening talks with Islamic separatists along their shared border.

“There was progress at the operational level, but I cannot disclose any details. However, we will expand cooperation with Malaysia into other possible areas,” Surayud told reporters.

The premier also insisted that the unrest had not turned southern Thailand into a haven for international terrorists.

“I want to offer my assurances that there is no movement of international terrorist groups on our soil,” he said.

Surayud said he doubted the unrest in southern Thailand would end this year, but insisted that his government had succeeded in winning the support of Muslim countries for its effort to bring peace to the region.—AFP