A security officer guards a Yala-based outpost in the aftermath of an insurgent attack, which resulted in one officer killed and four hurt.

The pre-dawn raid came as the military-backed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont headed to Malaysia to discuss solutions to end unrest in the strife-torn border region.

The soldier while was killing while standing guard outside the camp. About 100 police, soldiers and defence volunteers then gave chase after the militants. Officials believed some of the gunmen were wounded - as they found a trail of blood near the camp.

The raid followed a series of brazen gun and bomb attacks in downtown Yala on Tuesday. One person was killed and eight hurt.

More than 1,700 people have been killed in bombings and shootings occurring on nearly a daily basis in the Muslim-majority South. The previous government of Thaksin Shinawatra has been widely blamed for inciting the violence by using heavy-handed tactics.

Meanwhile, politicians, peace advocates and locals have welcomed moves to revive the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) and the Civilian-Police-Military Task Force (CPM) 43.

Village headman Arong Yusoh, of Ban Gujingleupa in Narathiwat, said villagers are already familiar with the groups and their roles. "However, the government should clarify as to how the organisations will be structured and run."

Another villager, Thiramon Nattarat, said the leader of the SBPAC must be a local who understands the situation.

Council for National Security (CNS) chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said on Tuesday the SBPAC and CPM would be revived under their old names.

Thaksin dissolved the two agencies in mid-2001.

The Nation

Yala