The Council for National Security (CNS) is keeping a close watch on key domestic political figures they believe have played a significant role in exacerbating the problems in the deep South and destabilising the military-appointed government, said chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

Meanwhile, the violence continued unabated in the region as gunfights, arson attacks and bombings killed three people, including two insurgents, and injured four others.

Royal Army Commander Sonthi said yesterday part of the cause of the current violent situation might come from domestic politics, with the goal to destroy the image of the government and the entire country. He said the CNS was aware of these key players and was keeping a close eye on the situation.

Violence continued to rock the Muslim-majority South over the weekend as a village headman shot dead two suspected Muslim insurgents early yesterday in the Khok Pho district of Pattani.

Ban Kuanlamae village headman Kuheng Sa-I, 45, said he was resting with his family and parents in the house when five suspected Muslim insurgents surrounded the house before opening fire with assault rifles at he and his family. He fired back with his long-range shotgun and an 11mm pistol. The exchange lasted about 10 minutes before the suspected insurgents ran away.

Kuheng was hit and neighbour Dueramae Chedeng was also injured. Both were sent to Khok Pho Hospital.

The two dead suspected insurgents were Usman Panoh, 27, who was the subject of an arrest warrant, and Arom Chenu, 30, whom police believed to be involved in a police shooting. Both men's bodies were riddled with bullets.

Police said the suspected gunmen were trying to portray the attack as the work of security officials as they were dressed in camouflage.

On Saturday in Pattani's Saiburi district, Wuthikorn Sae-Han was shot dead in a drive-by shooting while sitting drinking with two friends. Sunthorn Klaewthanong and Subin Arunsawas were critically injured.

The shooting came at around 8.30pm when an unknown number of gunmen riding in a pickup truck opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle before speeding away.

A home-made bomb went off as police went to the scene but no one was injured. Police said the suspected militants detonated the bomb to create chaos among villagers and security officials.

Separately, a group of 50 women and children gathered on a roadside in Yarang district of Pattani yesterday calling for the release of a religious teacher who was detained earlier by the emergency law.

Police detained Isma-ae Puteh, a religious teacher at private religious school Ban Kubaeseela, at around 9am. By 11pm, around 50 women and children went to pressure officials to release him.

Locals gathering to pressure authority is nothing new to the region and on several occasions these situations have led to violence. Earlier this year, a mob gathered around Kujingluepa School and injured two teachers, including Juling Pongkunmul, who is still in a coma.

The group disappeared after officials clarified that Isma-ae would be released as soon as he is found not to be involved in either the ongoing violence or the insurgency.

At 2pm in the same district, Ban Lahanyamoo School was set ablaze but villagers managed to help put out the fire. Only the prayer room was slightly damaged. Police have yet to investigate whether the fire was related to the protest.

In Narathiwat's Bacho district, a taskforce 32 base was attacked by at least 20 suspected Muslim insurgents on Saturday night. Heavy gunfire lasted for 10 minutes before the insurgents disappeared. Police found at least 120 M-16 and AK-47 assault rifle bullet casings at the scene. No one was injured.

Around the same time, an unknown number of culprits set fire to Ban Namtok Pacho School in the same district. A classroom in a two-storey building was damaged, but no one was injured. A telephone booth and a roadside pavilion on Bacho-Pattani Street were also set ablaze.

Violence has continued unabated in the three southernmost provinces since January 2004 and has claimed more than 1,900 lives.