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Bombs explode as Thaksin visits south

Bombs exploded last night in a southern Thai province as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra toured the region wracked by an Islamic separatist insurgency, with initial reports putting the number of wounded at eight.

The two bombs were set off in the nightlife district of a town in the same restive province where Thaksin was spending the night. The bombs exploded at a seafood restaurant and a karaoke parlor in Narathiwat Province's Sungai Kolok town, which is on the border with Malaysia.

The explosions occurred at about 7:30pm, when customers would normally be eating dinner. The identity of the victims was not immediately available.

Seeking to boost morale in Thailand's struggle against the insurgents, Thaksin earlier in the day flew to southern Thailand to fulfill a commitment to put himself in the country's most dangerous area. More than 1,000 people have been killed since early last year due to the area's sectarian violence.

After his arrival, Thaksin inspected the site where five soldiers were shot and killed on Wednesday night by suspected insurgents dressed as Muslim pilgrims.

Thailand's first Muslim army commander also inspected the site in Narathiwat Province, and warned troops not to place too much trust in the area's residents.

"I have ordered soldiers on the scene to adjust their strategy and warned them not to trust local people too much. The soldiers at checkpoints have to be more cautious and on full alert," General Sonthi Bunyarattaklin said.

Sonthi officially took over the powerful army commander's post on Saturday in the government's attempt to win the hearts and minds of southern Thai Muslims.

Thaksin warned of escalating attacks by the insurgents and said he had ordered an "adjustment in strategy to catch up with them." He did not elaborate.

He visited the wife of Masae Useng, a former teacher whom the authorities believe to be a key separatist leader. He asked her to persuade her husband to surrender and help develop the nation, and said he guaranteed that Masae would be treated fairly according to the law.

Thaksin was to stay last night at a Buddhist temple near where the soldiers were killed on Wednesday.

Before heading south from Bangkok, he said, "I will stay in areas said to be dangerous and will try more and more to go to the places said to be dangerous."

In other violence yesterday, a local politician was shot dead by gunmen in Pattani.
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