The killings came despite the prime minister's apology for government abuse in the region over the past two years.

A security official for Chumchon Ban Kruse School was shot dead in a drive-by shooting.

The 45-year-old Duming Moodor was found dead in front of his house in Muang district of Pattani. Police found two bullets holes in his head and body.

Investigating officials said two gunmen riding a motorcycle had opened fire with a pistol at Duming as he was walking to his motorcycle to go to work.

Duming is survived by his three children, who are now orphans as their mother had already died. The children are Usman Dukae, 15, Adam Dukae, 13, and Rojiba Moodor, 6. The first two are studying in Chumchon Ban Kruse while Rojiba does not yet go to school.

In the same province, school bus-driver Surin Kleepmanee, 59, was critically injured in a drive-by shooting. Surin was driving 21 kindergarten students home in a van when two gunmen riding a motorcycle fired four rounds at him with a .38 pistol. The attack created panic among the students, who were later taken home by villagers who witnessed the crime. Surin was sent to a local hospital.

In Bannang Sata district of Yala, Ismai Sama, 50, died after being shot by a stranger with an assault rifle while relaxing in front of his house after attending prayers at a local mosque.

More than 1,700 people have been killed since the violence re-emerged in the three southernmost provinces in January 2004. Surayud's apology yesterday received a warm welcome from both locals and the international community as a good start to ending the ongoing violence.

The Nation

Yala