Mahathir, who brokered talks in late 2005 between Thai officials and Muslim separatists, said he had urged the rebels not to push for a separate homeland in the Thai south bordering Malaysia.

"They have some grievances but I have told them quite clearly they should not make any effort to become an independent state or even autonomy because the Thai government doesn't like that," he told a press conference.

Mahathir revealed in October that he had brokered the landmark talks to help resolve the three-year conflict on Malaysia's doorstep which has left 1,800 people dead.

"I would like to do things further but I am advised that I should have a low profile because a high profile is not very welcome," he said.

"They said I am not too welcome," he said, but declined to reveal who had issued the "indirect advice".

"[It is] difficult for me to say because this involves other governments also," he said.

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who was appointed in a coup last September, expressed optimism over the talks and said they were a "good sign".

The government of mainly-Muslim Malaysia has volunteered to play a bigger role in resolving the crisis.

However, its relationship with Mahathir has collapsed in the past year as the former leader, who stepped down three years ago, has made strident attacks on the administration of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Mahathir said Monday that he would be willing to meet with separatist leaders again.

"If they ask me, they want to talk to me, they want to meet, then I'll meet. I'm not going to have any publicity or anything like that," he said.

Agence France-Presse