Police found the body of Prasong Rungcharoen at around 6am on a road between Muang and Yaha districts. The 67-year-old man had been shot as well as slashed in the neck and face.

Prasong was attacked during his morning walk, a witness said

Two men on a motorbike shot the elderly man in the neck, then got off their bike and slashed him across the face and neck until he stopped moving, the witness said.

The attack was aimed at stoking fear among local residents, police said.

Five separate attacks took place in neighbouring Pattani.

At about 1am in Nong Chik district suspected militants sprayed automatic gunfire into the house of Jehsani Jehheng, the head of Thung Pho village. No one was hurt in the five-minute attack, police said.

An hour and a half later in Mai Kaen district, Matahe Manu was shot in his left leg while riding his motorbike home from a teashop.

At about 5.30am, Sunthon Sodsai was shot in the head while driving vendors from the Klong Mai sub-district to a morning market in Muang Yala. Sunthon died at the wheel of his pickup. At about 3.30pm, Sawang Muenkota and his wife Pissamai Rasopha were shot while riding a motorbike home from work in Nong Chik district. Their wounds were not fatal.

At about the same time Khanchai Sabtharat was shot in the back while riding his motorbike home in Kok Pho district. His wound was not fatal.

Police suspect Muslim militants carried out the attacks. The wave of violence that has gripped the predominantly Muslim region since January 2004 has so far claimed more than 1,700 lives.