In Yala's Yaha district, six rangers were patrolling Sapaeta-Bannang Sata Road at about 6am yesterday when they were ambushed by suspected separatists some 500 metres from a checkpoint.

The rangers returned the fire, and the exchange lasted about five minutes before the attackers managed to escape. Yaha and Bannang Sata are two districts that have been put under curfew.

Late on Friday night, a man died from bullet wounds to his head and body after suspected militants shot him as he rode a motorcycle in Krong Pinang district.

In Narathiwat, Anhuan Lording, 23, was found lying near his motorcycle in Rusoh district with gunshot wounds to his body.

Investigators said he had been riding to an appointment when two suspected militants followed him and shot him.

In Joh I Rong district, Roh Se Mama, 77, was shot dead as he was about to tap rubber.

On Friday suspected militants killed village headman Matora Awae, 41, in Muang district. He was in a car when two men on the back of a pickup truck riddled him with bullets. Police found 26 spent cartridges from M-16 assault rifles at the scene. He was going back home after doing business with friends.