The attack came as schools in the three southernmost provinces had temporarily closed down for a week out of fear for the teachers' and students' safety. Most of the schools only re-opened last Monday.

The impact from the five-kilogram explosion injured two secondary 6 students, Chutakul Prom-opas and Wannaporn Kwanthong, a security official Corporal Worawut Samaksaman, 22, and a villager Isa Doloh, 39.

They were all taken to a local hospital where doctors said Chutakul remained in a critical condition.

"It is the first time that our students are the victims of the violence," said school director Sampan Nibuesa.

Despite the attack right in front of the school, Sampan said the private religious school would remain open as all 40 teachers and 420 students are ready to continue their studies. The attack came without warning, he said.

 Elsewhere, around the same time, a bomb exploded at Tanyong bridge in Rangae district injuring a security official Command Sergeant-Major Adul Kaewson, 50, who was patrolling the area.

The bridge is five kilometres away from Tanyonglimo School, which remained open throughout the day.

Separately, also in the same district, a three-kg homemade bomb exploded in front of a local teashop as two security officials walked past, but no one was injured.

In Yala's Than To district, a couple and their one-year-old son were injured in a drive-by shooting while riding their motorbike home.

The nearly daily violent attacks have re-emerged in the three Muslim-majority provinces since January 2004, and more than 1,800 people have been killed since.

Government officials - particularly soldiers, police and teachers - are often the targets of the attack.

The Nation

Narathiwat