In Yala's Yaha district, Suebsak Chansupha, 24, was shot dead while on his way to work. At least two gunmen riding on a motorbike opened fire at Suebsak before speeding away. The bullet went into his chest and he died at the scene, said Police.

Late Monday night in Rangae district of Narathiwat, two gunmen on a motorbike shot dead Uma Chengo, 50, who was riding his motorbike home. Police suspected Muslim militants were behind the attack the two separate incidents.

Separately, unknown number of suspected militants ambushed an election unit in Joh I Rong district of Narathiwat on early Tuesday morning.

Suspected militants, armed with AK47 and M16 assault rifles, hid in the deep forested area next to Juab's Tambon Administration Organisation's office and opposite the election booth, opened fire at five security volunteers who were stationing at the unit. The insurgents retreated after the arrival of a 30strong reinforcement but not after exchanging intense 15minute gunfight with them.

Nobody was injured, said Joh I Rong Police Superintendent Pol Col Thanongsak Wangsupha.

Meanwhile, more than 300 combined force of police and soldiers raided in 21 area in Muang, Mai Kaen and Yaring districts in Pattani and were able to detain three suspected militants who had arrest warrants on them. The suspects were identified as Waehama Sameng, 31, Saree Masae, 38, and Seri Masae, 35. The three were accused for being involved in the killing of three Thai Buddhists on March 6. All of them dismissed all allegations, according to officials.

Despite the killings and shootings yesterday, the past couple of weeks have seen a slight decline in the ongoing violence in the deep south, said Army Commander Sondhi Boonyaratklin.

Sondhi insisted that the decline was not a result of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawat's decision to suspend his political activities because the insurgency and Thai politics have two different aims.

Back in Bangkok, the caretaking government yesterday approved the extension of the ongoing emergency law in the three southernmost provinces and some districts in Songkhla, starting from April 20 until July 20.

Government spokesperson Surapong Suebwonglee said that since the law was implemented, 454 suspected insurgents have been arrested.

The muchcontroversial emergency law which was enacted since October last year, allows authorities to detain suspected insurgents without charges for up to 30 days and make arrests without warrants.

More than 1,100 lives have been lost since the violence broke out in the three southernmost two years ago. These violent incidents came in near daily attacks in forms of bombings, shootings and arson attacks.

The Nation