More bombings rock south Thailand

People in the south are used to a heavy police presence

A senior Thai military commander has appealed for calm after a string of bombings in the southern provinces.

Lt Gen Kwanchart Klaharn urged against panic after three people were killed in a wave of attacks from early Wednesday.

Nearly 900 people have died since the beginning of last year, in violence thought to be fuelled by disenchantment within the strong Islamic community.

Amid the increasing violence, about 130 Muslims have abandoned their homes in the south, to seek refuge in Malaysia.

Although shootings and bombings have become daily occurrences in the insurgency-hit region, there have been an unusually high number of attacks in recent days.

VIOLENCE-HIT 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 since 2004, targeting Buddhists Security forces' response criticised by rights groups Thailand's restive south

Exact details of the latest incidents are still unclear, but it is thought a total of three people died and more than 20 were injured.

In the resort town of Sungai Kolok, on the Malaysian border, there were a series of explosions late on Wednesday.

The bomb blasts, at a karaoke bar and two hotels, were triggered by mobile phone according to local police.

Bombs were also set off in Pattani province, damaging a bridge, and police in nearby Narathiwat province were targeted as they escorted a group of teachers to school.

There have been further reports of attacks in Narathiwat on Thursday, when a bomb hit a busy downtown area.

Escape attempt

Malaysian police said on Thursday that they had detained 131 Thai Muslims, including women and children, who had fled across the border to escape the continuing violence.

"They came in without travel documents and we have handed them over to the immigration department for further action," Zulkifli Abdullah, the police chief in Kelantan state told the French news agency AFP.

Mr Zulkifli said the group had been sheltering in mosques near the border area.

One of the detainees, identified as Salleh, told the official Bernama news agency that the group had decided to flee to Malaysia after the Thai army killed the leader of their village in Narathiwat province on Tuesday.

Mr Zulkifli said on Thursday that Malaysian police had tightened security at all border points with Thailand.

A marine police official is also reported as saying his team would keep a 24-hour watch along the narrow river separating the two nations.

The authorities are anxious to stop a larger influx of Thai Muslims into the country.