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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ambush kills eight Thai soldiers | Ambush kills eight Thai soldiers |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Eight Thai soldiers have been killed in an attack by suspected Muslim separatist rebels in the violence-hit south, an army spokesman said. | Eight Thai soldiers have been killed in an attack by suspected Muslim separatist rebels in the violence-hit south, an army spokesman said. |
| The soldiers were patrolling in Narathiwat province, which borders Malaysia, when the ambush took place. | The soldiers were patrolling in Narathiwat province, which borders Malaysia, when the ambush took place. |
| Two other soldiers were wounded in a separate clash, Reuters said. | Two other soldiers were wounded in a separate clash, Reuters said. |
| There are frequent gun and bomb attacks in Thailand's southern-most provinces, where separatist rebels are fighting for an Islamic state. | There are frequent gun and bomb attacks in Thailand's southern-most provinces, where separatist rebels are fighting for an Islamic state. |
| More than 2,500 people have been killed since the violence escalated in early 2004 | More than 2,500 people have been killed since the violence escalated in early 2004 |
| School escort | |
| The attack in Narathiwat took place around 0940 (0240 GMT), army spokesman Col Acra Tiproch said. | The attack in Narathiwat took place around 0940 (0240 GMT), army spokesman Col Acra Tiproch said. |
| 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 | |
| "Initial reports said the soldiers were ambushed after escorting teachers to schools and eight of them were killed," he said. | "Initial reports said the soldiers were ambushed after escorting teachers to schools and eight of them were killed," he said. |
| Militants have targeted teachers in the past, perceiving them as a symbol of domination by Thailand's majority Buddhist population, and so soldiers now provide an armed escort. | |
| Military officials were working to obtain more information about the ambush, he said. | |
| Rebels had also disrupted the mobile phone network in the region by attacking transmission towers, he said. | Rebels had also disrupted the mobile phone network in the region by attacking transmission towers, he said. |
| Over the years there has been periodic unrest in the Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Pattani, annexed by Thailand a century ago. | |
| But in January 2004, a raid on an army depot marked the start of a new level of insurgency. | |
| Last year, US-based group Human Rights Watch warned that the insurgency was turning increasingly brutal, with majority of victims innocent civilians. |