| Malaysia's defence minister Najib Razak has offered to host talks between the Thai government and Muslim separatists in three southern Thai provinces torn recently by violence. Plans for talks on Thursday between a Thai general and an autonomy advocate Wan Kadir Che Man have fallen through. The general commissioned by the Thai government, Pisarn Wattanawongkhiri, said his bid to meet Wan had run into broad criticism. Since January, clashes have claimed 200 lives in three southern provinces of predominantly Buddhist Thailand. Southern Muslims have long complained of discrimination. |