Thai government began peace talks with insurgent groups in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday in a bid to reduce nine-year unrest that has claimed several thousand lives in its restive South, Malaysian National Security Council Secretary Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab confirmed to Xinhua.

The Thai delegation was headed by National Security Council secretary general Paradorn Pattannathabutr.

Paradorn was quoted by Thai media as saying that he expects violence would decline as the talks with Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) go ahead.

Thai government officials said they are hoping to identify obstacles for violence to be reduced.

BRN is one of the leading insurgent groups in the restive southern Thailand. It reached a deal with Thai authorities in February to start peace talks facilitated by Malaysia.

The BRN delegation was believed to consist of three delegates of the group and two from Pattani United Liberation Organization ( Pulo).

More than 5,000 people have been killed in Thailand's Muslim, ethnic-Malay dominated three southern border provinces -- Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla -- since violence erupted in January 2004.