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Ambush kills eight Thai soldiers Ambush kills eight Thai soldiers
(about 1 hour 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 by suspected Muslim separatist rebels in the violence-hit south, according to an army spokesman.
The soldiers were patrolling in Narathiwat province, which borders Malaysia, when the ambush took place. The soldiers were on escort duty in Narathiwat province, which borders Malaysia, when the ambush took place.
Two other soldiers were wounded in a separate clash, Reuters said. The attack was one of the deadliest in the current conflict in the south, 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 2,700 people have died since the violence escalated in early 2004.
More than 2,500 people have been killed since the violence escalated in early 2004
School escortSchool 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3955543.stm">Thailand's restive south Suspected rebels hiding in the hills peppered the vehicle the soldiers were travelling in with gunfire.
"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. VIOLENCE-HIT SOUTH Home to most of Thailand's 4% Muslim minority Suspected militants have upped attacks since 2004, targeting BuddhistsSecurity forces' response criticised by rights groups class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3955543.stm">Thailand's restive south
Military officials were working to obtain more information about the ambush, he said. Militants have targeted teachers in the past, perceiving them as a symbol of domination by the Thai state, and so soldiers now provide an armed escort.
Rebels had also disrupted the mobile phone network in the region by attacking transmission towers, he said. Two other soldiers escorting teachers were wounded in a separate clash in neighbouring Yala province, 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. Rebels also disrupted the mobile phone network in the region by attacking transmission towers.
Over the years there has been periodic unrest in the Muslim-majority provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Pattani, annexed a century ago by mainly-Buddhist Thailand.
But in January 2004, a raid on an army depot marked the start of a new level of insurgency.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. Last year, US-based group Human Rights Watch warned that the violence was turning increasingly brutal, with majority of victims innocent civilians.
Critics accused overthrown prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of exacerbating the unrest with a tough stance towards the rebels.
Since the military coup of 2006, officials have offered talks and a softer approach from the security forces. But this has failed to reduce the violence, with attacks occurring on an almost daily basis.
The BBC's Jonathan Head, reporting from Bangkok, says the rebels have a powerful hold over much of the ethnic Malay community in southern Thailand.
He says the increasing savagery of their attacks has now created a chasm of mistrust between Muslims and Buddhists in the south which the authorities will find hard to bridge.