Thai leader apologises to Muslims

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Surayud Chulanont, the prime minister of Thailand, has apologised to the country's southern Muslims for past government policies.

Speaking to 1,000 Muslim leaders on Thursday, Surayud pledged to investigate the disappearance of Muslims and to root out corrupt and abusive officials in the three southern provinces.

"I'm here today to apologise for what past and present governments have done," Surayud said in the southern town of Pattani.

"I come here today to reach out to everyone and say: I am sorry," Surayud said.

al Jazeera

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1. Thailand drops Muslim protest cases

Thailand has dropped charges against 92 Muslims involved in a 2004 protest in the rebellious far south that led to 78 Muslims dying in army custody, according to the attorney-general's office.

The order came a day after Surayud Chulanont, the Thai prime minister, apologised for past government policies now blamed for stoking unrest in the region, where more than 1,700 people have been killed in nearly three years of violence.

Patchara Utithamdamrong, attorney-general, had signed the order dropping charges of instigating public disorder and disobeying authorities against 92, who were freed on bail, spokesman Attapol Yaisawang said on Friday.

"The order was sent today to the provincial prosecutor's office in Narathiwat and we expect the prosecutors to ask the court to withdraw the charges on Monday."

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/34BE11F6-9C82-4967-A2D3-59F5198A3B48.htm