It was about 7.30am when Sgt-Major Suriya Malaymal, 51, took a shortcut from the crowded morning market after unloading produce for his wife, a food vendor.

A group of eight gunmen approached him like cowboys and surrounded his car - and started shooting. The officer died in a hail of fire. More than 14 bullets from 9mm and 11mm pistols were found in his body.

One of the murderers then opened the truck door and stole the officer's M-16 rifle before they all rode away on motorcycles. The attack took place in front of horrified market-goers in broad daylight.

In Pattani province, five schools and several public health buildings in Sai Buri district were burnt down in the morning.

A Manang Dalam community clinic and the Ban Charako public health service station were completely destroyed while other locations were only partly damaged, Colonel Khamron Yodrak, chief of Sai Buri police district, said.

In Yala province's Muang district, a roadside bomb injured a policeman on duty to provide security to teachers. The bomb was detonated at 7.30am.

Corporal Chatchavan Thornpho, who was travelling in a pickup truck with four police colleagues, was slightly hurt when the bomb exploded on the road between Ban Niang-Yaha district.

Attacks in the predominantly Muslim region have been almost an everyday occurrence since the beginning of 2004. The violence has claimed more than 2,200 lives so far.