Bomb kills three, injures nine in Thai south

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A bomb exploded in Thailand's restive Muslim south late on Wednesday, police said, killing three people and injuring nine after a visit to the troubled border region by the Thai and Malaysian prime ministers.

Five bombs had earlier injured 14 security forces in Yala province and in neighbouring Narathiwat as Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak, toured the region in a bid to end the violence.

In the latest incident, two suspected insurgents on a motorcycle fired into a restaurant in Narathiwat's main town. A remote-controlled bomb, concealed in a second motorcycle, then detonated, killing three women.

Separatist tension has long simmered in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces since the rubber-rich region, once an independent Malay-Muslim sultanate, was annexed by Buddhist Thailand a century ago.

More than 3,700 people have died in six years of violence in the deep south, but no credible group has claimed responsibility. Most attacks come in the form of drive-by shootings and bombings, though there have been cases of beheading.

Abhisit this week ruled out dialogue with the shadowy rebels but said a political solution was urgently needed.

Najib favours some form of autonomy for the predominantly ethnic Malay region. He backed efforts by the Thai government while urging residents to support efforts to restore peace.

- Reuters