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Published on February 9, 2008

Thirteen of the suspects were detained after a round-up in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district in the morning, when bomb-making materials were confiscated, police said.

A three-hour search of at least 50 houses in Ban I Ba Tu village by 150 troops aimed to root out militants from the Runda Kampulan Kecil (RKK) active in the area.

Police said among the 13 were Masukree Satopa, the alleged head of the militant cell, and Alapade Awa, an alleged bomb expert.

Lt-Colonel Rungroj Anantho, commander of the 31st Special Task Force, said the suspected militants were preparing for a huge offensive in Narathiwat this month.

"Usually, this group does not live in the area but they were here to prepare for a

big operation," he told reporters.

Separately, police arrested Asman Awaekaji in Muang district in Narathiwat, in connection with a number of violent attacks. He was linked to many bombings in the province, police said.

In Yala's Bannang Sata district, officials nabbed three suspects thought to have links with key suspect Ma-ae Abibanbare, who is on the run. One of the three is Samsuding Abibanbae, a younger brother of Ma-ae, district chief Methee Kanchana-puwa said.

The arrests are seen as a key way to destroy militant networks and contain the violence that has claimed the lives of more than 2,800 people in the region since early 2004.

Despite the arrests, analysts say the new government under Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is not seen as having many new ideas for restoring peace in the deep South.

The Nation