A delegation from the Thai Government led by National Security Council (NSC) Chief Paradorn Pattanathabut on June 13 began the third round of peace talks with rebels to end violence in the south of the country.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Thai Defence Ministry Nipat Thonglek told reporters that the Thai Government hopes the talks, held in Malaysian’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur, will bring advantageous results to people in southern Thailand .

More than 5,000 people have been killed in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, the country’s three southern provinces bordering Malaysia, and several districts in Songkhla province since violence broke out in January 2004.-VNA