Surayud is scheduled to travel to Nakhon Si Thammarat to preside over a government's project.

His visit to Pattani was set on Wednesday after a meeting of high-level security officials, including Army Commander in Chief Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin, National Security Council's secretary general Prakit Prajonpajanuk and Police Chief Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavej.

The army earlier said that most of suspects arrested in connection with the attack on commuter van which killed eight passengers in Yala last week were being held for questioning at Ingkayuth camp in Pattani.