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Masusoh Pohtae, 43, was killed in a gun attack while drinking in a tea shop in Tanyongmat subdistrict, police said.

Masusoh is the father of Yaya Pohtae, a suspect in the murder to two marines who were beaten to death during a hostage drama in 2005. Yaya was arrested recently.

An eye witness said two gunmen riding in the back of a pickup fired AK47 and shotgun rounds into the teashop where Mususoh was drinking with 10 other people. Another tea drinker Maaeh Susoh was injured.

It was not certain if the motivation for the attack was linked to the murder of the two marines.

The attack raised tension in the deep South where about 2,700 people have died since 2004. Elsewhere, officials managed to defuse a roadside bomb in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district. Officials found a bomb planted on the side of the Tak BaiSungai Kolok road.

The 5kilogram explosive device was contained in a metal box. It had a remote control detonator that could be ignited by mobile phone, a bomb expert who defused the bomb said.