This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21437938
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Militants killed in southern Thailand attack | Militants killed in southern Thailand attack |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Thailand's military says its troops have killed 16 militants who stormed a base in the violence-hit south of the country. | |
| The attack took place before dawn on Wednesday in Narathiwat province, near the border with Malaysia. | |
| No military casualties were reported in the attack, which the Thai army said had involved dozens of militants. | No military casualties were reported in the attack, which the Thai army said had involved dozens of militants. |
| Thailand's three southernmost provinces have been plagued by unrest in recent years. | Thailand's three southernmost provinces have been plagued by unrest in recent years. |
| More than 5,000 people have been killed since a decades-old separatist campaign reignited in the Muslim-majority region in 2004. | More than 5,000 people have been killed since a decades-old separatist campaign reignited in the Muslim-majority region in 2004. |
| Separatists carry out regular attacks, usually roadside bombings or drive-by shootings. | Separatists carry out regular attacks, usually roadside bombings or drive-by shootings. |
| 'Extra alert' | |
| Wednesday's attack is the biggest loss of life in several years. Officials had earlier put the toll at 17 but revised it down. | |
| Pramote Phromin, a spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command, told Reuters news agency that up to 60 militants wearing military fatigues approached the base at around 01:00 (18:00 GMT on Tuesday). | |
| Soldiers at the base had been tipped off by locals ahead of the attack, officials said. | |
| "There have been frequent attacks this month, so every unit has been on the lookout. Officers have been assigned on a night watch at every base,'' Capt Somkiat Ponprayun, provincial marine corps special task force chief, told the Associated Press. | |
| "This week, residents in Bacho district have also informed the soldiers of small armed movement here and there, which put us on extra alert,'' he added. | |
| The three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were annexed to Siam, as Thailand was then known, more than a century ago. Most of the residents are Muslims, unlike the majority Buddhist population in Thailand. | The three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were annexed to Siam, as Thailand was then known, more than a century ago. Most of the residents are Muslims, unlike the majority Buddhist population in Thailand. |
| The Thai government has deployed tens of thousands of troops and police to the region, but has been unable to quell the violence. | The Thai government has deployed tens of thousands of troops and police to the region, but has been unable to quell the violence. |
| On Sunday five soldiers were killed by suspected militants in a bomb attack in Yala, a neighbouring province. | On Sunday five soldiers were killed by suspected militants in a bomb attack in Yala, a neighbouring province. |
| The government has recently suggested imposing a curfew in certain parts of the region. | |
| "If we impose a curfew then militants will find it more difficult to enter the area," Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said. | |
| A temporary curfew has been put in place in six areas in response to the attack. |