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| Thailand PM holds security talks | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has met security chiefs after a wave of bombings and shootings that killed at least seven people. | |
| Some 30 bombs went off in southern Thailand in one of the region's worst outbreaks of violence since a Muslim insurgency flared up three years ago. | Some 30 bombs went off in southern Thailand in one of the region's worst outbreaks of violence since a Muslim insurgency flared up three years ago. |
| Schools, bars, hotels, a car showroom and a power station were targeted. | Schools, bars, hotels, a car showroom and a power station were targeted. |
| Thai officials believe the attacks were timed to coincide with the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations. | Thai officials believe the attacks were timed to coincide with the start of the Chinese New Year celebrations. |
| Speaking after the prime minister's emergency talks with military and security chiefs, Thailand's army chief-of-staff warned that there could be further attacks. | |
| "The violence may increase, and it will be the same kind of terrorist tactics," General Montri Sangkasap said. | |
| Holiday warning | |
| He said the authorities were still unsure about who had carried out the attacks. | |
| And he warned that, since they had happened as Thailand's many ethnic Chinese were celebrating Lunar New Year, extra vigilance would be needed around the time of other festivals. | |
| Three people died on New Year's Eve on 31 December when a series of bombs exploded in the capital Bangkok. | |
| VIOLENCE-HIT SOUTH Home to most of Thailand's 4% Muslim minority Muslim rebels fought the government up to the mid-1980s Suspected militants have upped attacks since 2004, targeting BuddhistsSecurity forces' response criticised by rights groups Thailand's restive south | VIOLENCE-HIT SOUTH Home to most of Thailand's 4% Muslim minority Muslim rebels fought the government up to the mid-1980s Suspected militants have upped attacks since 2004, targeting BuddhistsSecurity forces' response criticised by rights groups Thailand's restive south |
| Gen Montri said security forces would now be placed on extra high alert during the Makhabucha festival on 5 March and the Songkran Thai New Year celebrations in mid-April. | |
| Army spokesman Col Acra Pritroch said the aim of the attackers was to show that the government could not maintain security during the Lunar New Year. | |
| "They use the festival time to show that there is not peace in the three provinces in the south," he said on Thai television. | |
| The most recent blasts happened about 1900 (1200 GMT) on Sunday. | |
| Petrol stations, karaoke bars, hotels, a golf course and a cinema were hit in the southern province of Yala. | Petrol stations, karaoke bars, hotels, a golf course and a cinema were hit in the southern province of Yala. |
| At least one person was killed in blasts at five karaoke bars in Narathiwat province. Two public schools in the province also were torched. | At least one person was killed in blasts at five karaoke bars in Narathiwat province. Two public schools in the province also were torched. |
| Firebombings targeted electricity transmitters in Pattani province, causing power blackouts across Pattani town, police said. | Firebombings targeted electricity transmitters in Pattani province, causing power blackouts across Pattani town, police said. |
| Three people were shot dead by unidentified assailants. An army major was killed, and his seven-year-old son wounded, by a bomb left in a bag outside his home. | Three people were shot dead by unidentified assailants. An army major was killed, and his seven-year-old son wounded, by a bomb left in a bag outside his home. |
| At least 45 people were injured in the wave of attacks. | At least 45 people were injured in the wave of attacks. |
| Restive south | |
| Police have advised people in the southern provinces to stay at home following the attacks. | Police have advised people in the southern provinces to stay at home following the attacks. |
| Nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Thailand's south since an insurgency was launched there in January 2004. | Nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Thailand's south since an insurgency was launched there in January 2004. |
| Violence has surged since the military seized power in a bloodless coup in September. | Violence has surged since the military seized power in a bloodless coup in September. |
| On Friday, Gen Surayud said Thailand was willing to hold talks with separatists with the help of neighbouring Malaysia in the army-appointed leader's latest olive branch. | On Friday, Gen Surayud said Thailand was willing to hold talks with separatists with the help of neighbouring Malaysia in the army-appointed leader's latest olive branch. |
| The Muslim-majority provinces were once independent but the region was annexed by Thailand 100 years ago. | The Muslim-majority provinces were once independent but the region was annexed by Thailand 100 years ago. |
| Most of the population in the region are ethnic Malays who have long felt discriminated against by the Buddhist majority in Thailand, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says. | Most of the population in the region are ethnic Malays who have long felt discriminated against by the Buddhist majority in Thailand, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says. |