Colonel Somkuan Saengpatra-ranet told reporters eyewitnesses to Wednesday's attack had identified men believed to be members of an insurgent cell controlled by Ahama Checha, a key subordinate of the late Serming Malee.

Serming was killed late last month in a gunfight with security officers. Authorities had offered a Bt2-million reward for his capture.

Somkuan said Ahama was now one of the most wanted suspects in the region.

Authorities have linked him to a number of attacks, including the killing of a monk at Wat Promprasit in Pattani's Panare district.

Ahama controlled insurgent cells in several districts, including Panare, Yarang, Ma-Yor and Thung Yang Daeng, Somkuan said.

"We have captured a number of his subordinates," he added.

Pattani Governor Phanu Utairat yesterday called for a special security unit be set up to protect district, tambon and village officials, saying too many had been attacked by insurgents.

Like the units set up for schoolteachers, the force would provide security for officials as they travelled to and from work, he said.

In Wednesday's attack, however, officials were killed at their workplace. About 10 armed men stormed the remote district office. Five officials were killed at the scene, and a sixth died in hospital.

The Nation

Yala