Some 50 militants, early yesterday, torched seven buildings in Pattani's Muang district, including public schools at Ban Bana, Ban Juloh, Ban Pakahang, Ban Kueya and Ban Korlaebeleh, Pattani governor Phanu Uthairat said.

A public health clinic at Talulo sub-district was also torched, while a teacher's house was set ablaze near Ban Kue Ze School.

The militants were targeting schools and public-health buildings as they had "failed to manipulate the local people" to rise against the authorities, Phanu said.

In the neighbouring province of Yala, two people were shot dead in two separate gun attacks in Lidon sub-district. The first attack at 7.30am killed Malaseng Dokoh, the 63-year-old mayor of Lidon Tambon Administration Organisa-tion, right in front of his house.

About two kilometres away, security official Waehama Hajisamaeah, who is also a driver for a senior district official, was also shot dead in front of his house.

In Narathiwat, a gun attack in Rangae district injured Manaseh Sa-ah, a local resident, while he was walking through his village. He was hit three times in his right leg and taken to a district hospital.

Meanwhile, a group of 200 people continued their sixth day of protest yesterday, demanding the government end violence and enforce the law to maintain peace and order.

Calling themselves the "Force of the Land Network", the group has been demonstrating in front of the Yala City Hall since last Wednesday to express their anger after Patcharaporn Boonmart, a 26-year-old Buddhist woman, was killed and burned in the province. They want her funeral delayed as they are seeking a royal-sponsored cremation for her.

Thanpuying Viriya Chavakul, the confidante of Her Majesty the Queen, was in the deep South yesterday and met the group to listen to their demands.