Karan earlier this week disputed the move to impose curfews in Rangae and Rusoh. He said the situation was not serious enough to justify restrictions on movement.

But yesterday he said: "The decision to impose curfews depends on Fourth Army Region Commander Lt-General Wiroj Boacharoon.

"Rangae and Rusoh districts are among risky and vulnerable spots that have been targets of attacks and violence since the beginning of this month."

If the Army believes curfews will curb violence, the provincial authorities are ready to cooperate and help implement them, the governor said.

The Army slapped curfews on Yala's Yaha and Bannang Sata districts on Thursday following the brutal killing of eight Buddhist passengers in a commuter van and the injuring of 11 Muslims in a bomb attack on a mosque.

The Army is considering expanding its dusk-to-dawn curfew to the two Narathiwat locations.

Meanwhile, Army spokesman Colonel Akara Thiprote said it would consider prevailing conditions in the districts before imposing restrictions.

These will include the point to which violence has escalated, the level of intimidation faced by residents and the extent to which they cooperate with security officials.

The Army is looking at the situation on a day-by-day basis, he said.

Meanwhile, Yaha district chief Supanat Sirantavineti said violence had halted since the introduction of the curfew.

"After the curfew was imposed, we have seen clearly that violence stops. However, there is still some opposition to the curfew," he said.

"We will send our officials to visit the people to explain to them why the curfew is needed. When the people understand the situation, they are expected to cooperate with us."

The province will organise a meeting of imams of 62 mosques to explain the curfew, he added.

The Army is using helicopters to patrol the region at night.

An Army commander in Yala, Colonel Chinnawat Mandej, said 14 people suspected of involvement in the brutal killing of eight passengers of a commuter van in Yaha district had been detained.

Some were being held for questioning at Ingkayuth Boriharn military camp in Pattani. They are believed to be leaders of the insurgency, he said.

"Some of the suspects confessed their involvement in the ambush of the van and the killing of eight civilians. We will use their confessions to trace more suspects," he added.

Pattani Governor Panu Utairat said a village chief in Sai Buri district would be disciplined for the burning of a school in his region. He did not name the chief.

Soldiers yesterday raided Koh Toe village in Rusoh district and confiscated an M-16 rifle, a pistol, ammunition and medical supplies as well as fertiliser and other material for explosives.

In Narathiwat, suspected insurgents opened fire on three men in Sungai Padi district, killing one and injuring two.

The deceased is Aseng Puteh, 29. The two others are Kareng Dueramae, 22, and Mayuna Satapoh, 24. The men were sitting outside a house when they were attacked from a motorcycle.