Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin is exploring ways to boost troop numbers and impose more curfews in more areas in the restive south after violence spread to other parts of the region, including an Islamic boarding school, where two people were killed on Saturday.

Sonthi was in the deep South yesterday for an urgent meeting with security agencies to tighten operations in the predominantly Muslim region.

"I came here to check whether we have sufficient troops for the operation to cover all 30 districts in the region," he told reporters.

"I want to know how many additional troops we need and will bring more from the three armed forces and the police."

More than 30,000 troops have already been deployed in the region but the militants have kept launching deadly attacks. The government is still struggling to contain the violence that erupted at the beginning of 2004 and has claimed more than 2,100 lives so far.

Sonthi said he would authorise the Fourth Army Region Commander to announce a curfew to bar local people in some districts - including Yala's Than To - from leaving their homes.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said his government would follow Her Majesty the Queen's suggestion to arm local residents in the restive region so they can protect themselves. The Interior Ministry has trained and equipped local residents, notably Buddhists, for years.

Fresh violence erupted in Pattani's Nong Chik yesterday that left three dead and another three workers injured at a royal sponsored project for women widowed by the violence.

Militants sprayed automatic rifle fire into a pickup truck loaded with 19 women workers as it entered the project site at about 8am.

The deaths and injuries were all women aged between 31 and 57 years old. The project was an experimental farm initiated by Her Majesty the Queen.

In Narathiwat's Rangae district, a trader was injured in a shoot-out while riding a motorbike to sell milk in the district. Worawit Woraphan was shot in the back and later admitted to hospital.

Meanwhile, a policeman was injured in a drive-by-shooting while riding a motorbike to work in Si Sakhon district. Pol Sergeant Pichit Suwan was soaked in blood when he arrived at his office at the district police station.