Muslims groups have been pushing for amendments to the 1997 Islamic Affairs Administration, 1981 Haj Pilgrimage and 1983 Promotion of Haj Pilgrimage laws.

The main idea behind the amendments is to allow for the establishment of a Shura council as an authority to issue final decisions on the interpretation of Islam, said General Watanachai Chaimuanwong, the Prime Minister's security adviser.

"The council would be useful in the effort to contain southern violence since we would have an authoritative body to rule on Islamic legal interpretations and oppose incorrect teaching," he announced.

The proposed council, to be chaired by Sheikhul Islam, would comprise 31 members representing provincial committees, boarding schools and religious leaders, Watanachai said.

Many southern Islamic religious teachers taught incorrect interpretations of Islam to youngsters and created violence as a result, he said.

The council could condemn the regional terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah's violence as in contradiction of Islam, he said.

The latest violence yesterday took place in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district when Ranger Suriya Yama was shot dead as he parked his car to buy fruit from a street vendor.

In another incident, a bomb attack on a police border patrol left Sgt Major Akradej Uapsamang injured in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district.

Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram yesterday visited Malaysia to seek cooperation in solving the situation and announced that Kuala Lumpur had pledged to help Thailand.

The two countries will set up a coordination group to tackle illegal border crossing to prevent militants from seeking shelter in Malaysia, he said.

Kuala Lumpur will also help to explain the situation in the South to the international community to increase understanding, he added.