"Regarding the blacklists, I have asked the authorities to tear them up and burn them," Surayud told a packed crowd at Yala's Thammawithya Foundation School.

More than 90 per cent of the school personnel, including the principle Sapaeing Baso, are on the authorities' blacklist.

Sapaeing is on the run from police, who have accused him of being one of the masterminds behind the violence in the region.

During his one-day trip to the region yesterday, Surayud met with students and teachers at Yala's Teachers' University and Prince of Songkhla University's Pattani Campus in an effort to promote reconciliation in the South.

This was his second trip to the restive region where more than 1,700 people have been killed since January 2004. This followed last week's visit when he met with religious leaders and publicly apologised for the Tak Bai massacre and the harsh measures of the previous government.

"I have learned that some youths have been lured into the 'dark corners' of society. For the sake of peace in the nation and a good future for the young, I would like to ask you to help me to create peace and unity," he told the students.

Meanwhile, insurgent violence continue unabated as three people were shot dead yesterday, including two militants, and four people were injured in separate incidents.

Two militants and a soldier, Sgt-Major Uthai Faithahi, were killed and two volunteer rangers injured in a 15-minute gunfight behind Ban Thanthip School in Bannang Sata district of Yala. No teachers or students were injured as the school was closed after the recent arson attacks on other schools in the region during the past week.

Police said an army unit was resting at a roadside pavilion when at least 20 gunmen opened fire.

Elsewhere, a bomb exploded at a fish market in Muang district of Pattani, injuring two soldiers. 

Several schools in Yala as well as Pattani remained closed following the shootings and arson attacks targeting school personnel.

Narathiwat's provincial court yesterday discharged criminal indictments against 56 people believed to be involved in the protest at Tak Bai district office in October 2004. The court also revoked the arrest warrants for 40 other suspects in the incident.