Panu Uthairat said yesterday the police investigation had revealed the involvement of five people. However, he said, only one person parked the explosive-laden motorcycle near the teashop. The others were in a nearby area.

Panu said plainclothes police were tracking down all the suspects and expected to arrest them soon.

According to Panu, the five suspects are members of an important network of 15 people who have unleashed violence in the three southernmost provinces.

The blast was caused by a bomb stuffed in a PVC pipe, sealed with plastic, and placed in a paint can in the motorcycle's basket. The daytime blast on Wednesday killed two teachers and a soldier.

Meanwhile in Narathiwat, a combined police-military force yesterday seized more than five

M-16s and ammunition in Rangae district's Tanyonglimo village. Authorities of the Narathiwat Rachanakarin Army camp confirmed that they were part of weapons stolen from the camp during a raid by insurgents on January 4, 2004.

All of the seized weapons were transferred to Yala to check whether they had been fired.

Meanwhile, as schools reopen tomorrow

some are faced with a shortage of teachers, with some of the staff having asked to be moved out of the region.

Baan I-Batuu School in Narathiwat has only one teacher, who is also the principal and is tasked with taking care of 230 students.

Some schools have asked the Army to provide security for teachers and students.