Thai PM rules out militant talks

Security has been stepped up across the south

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has again ruled out negotiations with Muslim separatists in the south.

In his weekly radio address, Mr Thaksin said he would not talk to militants trying to use violence to force his government to discuss secession.

On Friday, the prime minister said the suspected separatists wanted to provoke the government into over-reacting.

More than 400 people have been killed so far this year, with security forces blamed for almost half of the deaths.

Another member of the security forces - a Muslim serving in the Thai navy - was shot dead on Friday while he guarded a Buddhist temple in the southern province of Narathiwat.

I will have to launch a massive crackdown on weapons Thaksin Shinawatra

Mr Thaksin said he would travel to Narathiwat on Sunday to discuss security with officials there and that he would begin a campaign to rid the area of illegally-held weapons.

"I will have to launch a massive crackdown on weapons. We will use both a soft approach and an iron fist to sweep out these people. Innocent people don't have to fear or worry," he said.

Mr Thaksin has been strongly criticised for his handling of the violence in the south.

Buddhist fears

The security situation in southern Thailand has been deteriorating since the start of this year.

TROUBLED SOUTH Home to most of Thailand's 4% Muslim minority Muslim rebels fought the government up to the mid-80s Suspected militants have upped attacks this year, targeting Buddhists Security forces' response criticised by rights groups Thailand's restive south In pictures: Daily life

But violence has intensified since 85 Muslims were killed when a protest turned violent last month. Many of the dead suffocated while in police custody.

At least 10 people have been killed in apparent reprisal attacks for their deaths, which followed a protest outside a police station in Takbai, Narathiwat province.

Warnings that insurgents may try to target Buddhist teachers and students have prompted many schools throughout the south to close until Monday at the earliest.

An independent panel has been set up to investigate the Takbai deaths, but the inquiry has done little to calm fears among Buddhists living in the south.

A militant group called the Pattani United Liberation Organization (Pulo) posted a warning message on its website last week urging Buddhist citizens to leave the Muslim-dominated southern areas, and also threatening terrorist attacks in Bangkok.

The south of Thailand is home to most of the country's Muslim minority, which has long complained of discrimination by the authorities in Bangkok.