Thailand is the world's largest per capita methamphetamine consumer

The government in Thailand has declared its three-month campaign to stop the sale and use of illegal drugs a success.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that as a result of the crackdown, which ended on Wednesday, 90% of the problem had been eradicated, and all drugs would be eradicated by the end of the year.

However human rights groups have expressed alarm at the high number of alleged drug dealers killed during the campaign.

The authorities argue that most of the deaths resulted from inter-gang warfare, but rights activists suspect the government of endorsing police operate a "shoot to kill" policy against suspected dealers.

Mr Thaksin had promised that all methamphetamines would be eradicated in Thailand by now.

But nevertheless the Thai prime minister declared himself happy with the results of the three-month campaign.

"It has yielded quick success, better than I have expected," Mr Thaksin said in a weekly radio address.

He set a new deadline - saying that the government would be able to "eradicate all drugs in Thailand" by 2 December, a few days before King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday.

A total of 2,274 people have died nationwide since February, including 42 suspects shot by police, according to official statistics released on Wednesday.

Police have argued that they have only killed in self-defence.

Condemnation

Thirapat Assawasangsit, secretary to the National Human Rights Commissioner, criticised the government's methods.

"The reputation of the country has been damaged. We have to declare this war on drugs, but we have to do it under judicial law. Everything should pass through the courts, and not take place behind the scenes like this," he told the French news agency AFP.

But Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen, said he was impressed by the government's campaign.

"If Thailand could break down drugs, I could benefit from it. The neighbouring countries could benefit from it. So I'm very grateful to Mr. Thaksin," he said.

Five percent of Thailand's 63 million people use methamphetamines, according to figures cited by the International Narcotics Control Board.

Most of the drugs that are brought into Thailand are said to come from neighbouring Burma or the so-called "Golden Triangle" region where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos meet.