Malaysia offers to help Thailand curb violence as it steps up security

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (AFP) - Malaysia on Tuesday offered to help Thailand curb violence in its southern provinces, where at least 84 Muslims died -- mostly through suffocation -- after being rounded up by security forces following a violent demonstration.
"We are very concerned about this. I have instructed the foreign minister (Syed Hamid Albar) to get more information on this matter," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.
He was apparently responding to news of the death of six protesters and not to reports late Tuesday of the death of 78 more while in custody in army or police trucks.
"If there is anything that we can do to help, we will. If not, we wish that the Thai government will be able to manage this crisis so that it will not spread and cause further violence," Abdullah said.
"We want the Thai government to take firm action."
Abdullah, who earlier this month held talks with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to flesh out development plans for the three southernmost Thai provinces, said the incident would not hamper cooperation by the two countries.
Police have been instructed to step up security to prevent Thai militants from taking refuge in Malaysia, said Zuber Shariff, police chief of the border state of Kelantan.
Zuber, quoted by Bernama, warned Malaysians to avoid crossing into southern Thailand, a popular tourism and shopping destination.
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid expressed concern about Monday's violence in which six demonstrators died when security forces broke up a day-long protest by up to 3,000 people outside a police station.
"The flare-up in southern Thailand is a matter of concern to us. Thailand is a close neighbour. Any incidents will be watched closely here," he said.
Mainly Muslim Malaysia was working closely with Thailand to develop the troubled south so that economic prosperity would bring peace to the region, Syed Hamid said.
"We are sad there has been an incident. We will wait and see what had happened," he added.

10/26/2004 13:48 GMT - AFP