Malaysia retracts Thai statement

Malaysia is worried about Thais flooding across the border

Malaysia has retracted a government statement it had sent home 130 Muslims who fled from the ongoing insurgency in southern Thailand last August.

Malaysian officials said first that the group had been sent home last year, but the official Bernama news agency later corrected the report.

Bernama quoted Attorney-General Gani Patail as saying: "I sincerely apologise for the miscommunication".

The status of the group has caused tension between the two nations.

Thailand said some were militants, but Malaysia said it wanted guarantees for their safety before sending them back.

Another member of the group, who was wanted by the Thai authorities, was deported in November.

Emergency rule

Separately, the Thai government has extended its emergency rule in the south by another three months.

The controversial order - which covers the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat - is now effective until 20 April.

Under emergency rule, the authorities can detain suspects for up to 30 days without charge, search and arrest people without warrants and tap mobile phones.

More than 1,000 people have died in southern Thailand since the beginning of 2004, in violence thought to be fuelled by disenchantment within the predominantly Muslim community.

The mainly Islamic nation of Malaysia has cultural and religious links with Thailand's south.