The prime ministers of Thailand and Malaysia have paid an historic visit to the restive southern part of Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak officially named the Friendship Bridge which connects their two countries.
The bridge is designed to symbolise the improved relations between the two countries despite years of continuing violence in the south of Thailand, which is predominantly Muslim.
The region was populated by Muslims from Malaysia and ruled by a sultan until 1902. It was then taken over by predominantly Buddhist Thailand
In 2004, a armed struggle for independence from Thailand was launched in which about 4000 people have so far been killed. Over the last few days, a spate of bomb attacks has claimed dozens more lives.
photos: Abhisit Vejjajiva (Flickr / World Economic Forum) and Najib Razak (Flickr / CeeKay's Pix)
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