Series of bombs hit South Thailand

YALA, Thailand - At least two people were killed and 16 wounded by a rash of small bombs in Thailand's rebellious Muslim south today, attacks the government said security forces knew were planned but failed to prevent.

At least 41 bombs exploded at police stations, checkpoints and government offices in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, the southernmost provinces where more than 1300 people have been killed in two years of separatist insurgency.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said security forces were aware of plans for attacks to mark the anniversary of the birth of the now-defunct Pattani Sulanate - annexed by Thailand a century ago - but failed to stop them.

"We knew these were going to happen, but the prevention measures weren't working effectively," Thaksin told reporters in his northern home town of Chiang Mai. "Therefore we have some losses."

Army radio quoted Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana, a former air force chief, as saying the bombs were made in a "neighbouring country in the south", a clear reference to Malaysia, where Bangkok says Malay-speaking separatists hide and plan attacks.

The biggest bomb hit a teashop in front of the Kokpoe police station in Pattani province, killing a Buddhist councillor and wounding 10 customers, a Kokpoe police officer said by telephone.

"This teashop is usually a meeting place for police, but luckily none of us was there this morning," the officer said.

Another deadly explosion took place outside Pattani Provincial Hall, killing a security guard checking cars.

"The bomb, believed to be detonated by mobile phone, exploded while bomb-detecting officials were searching the car," Southern Army Commander Ongkorn Thongprasom said.

Bombs also exploded at a library in Pattani, at Yala City Hall and a Yala police station, police said.

The army and police said most of the bombs, small time-bombs using wrist watches to set them off from around 0100 (0600 NZT Thursday), were designed to make noise rather than kill.

But they were also designed to show the separatists could attack anywhere, Ongkorn told Reuters.

The bombs went off during a visit by Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya, who is in charge of national security, to tighten security.

The government of overwhelmingly Buddhist Thailand has tried many ways to end the violence and win the hearts and minds of the 1.8 million people in the far south, an independent Muslim Sultanate until annexed by Bangkok a century ago.

It has tried everything from brute force to promises of development aid, but militant attacks on security forces, officials and ordinary people continue almost daily in the region, where most people speak a Malay dialect.

- REUTERS