Officials inspect the hole caused by an explosion last night, which nearly killed a group of soldiers passing by.

The slain man was identified as Sama-ae Jeha, 56, a defence force volunteer at Ban Kuwa in Sungai Padi district.

He had been shot dead but his body was also covered with numerous slashes, particularly on his neck, arms and body.

His attackers also apparently cut off his ears, police said.

At the scene, officials found a number of spent ammunition shells plus a motorbike thought to belong to the victim.

Police said they believed the gruesome attack was part of an effort to stir up violence. Nearly 1,400 people have been killed since fighting in the region intensified in January 2004.

The latest violence also claimed the lives of Col Suthisak Prasertsri, the commander of a special taskforce, and Private Phanuwat Thanya in an explosion on Saturday in Yala's Bannang Sata district.

The colonel was the highest-ranking Army officer to have been killed in recent years.

Police in Yala yesterday picked up two suspects in connection with the bomb attack in Bannang Sata.

Awaeuseng Jehso, 40, and Spaeing Spibuema, 46, were taken into custody at their homes in the district for questioning, police said.

In a separate incident, a group of military officers led by Col Wattana Kromkhan, chief of staff at the Yala Special Task Force I, narrowly escaped a roadside explosion late last night.

The bomb went off while the colonel and three other soldiers were driving down on the road linking Betong and downtown Yala.

The explosion blew a hole in the road that measured one metre deep and two metres wide.

Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said that he had warned state officials and other authorities working in the restive southern region to be careful during operations because militants had started targeting high-ranking officials to boost their morale.