Buddhist killed in drive-by shooting

Police said the gunman fired five shots at close range but hit Somchai Somsiriwiriyadej, 30, a native of Songkhla's Hat Yai, with two bullets. He died on the way to the hospital. The attack took place Monday evening.

Separately, in Pattani's Muang district, arsonist set fire to an earth mover machinery vehicle, causing a seven million baht damages to the equipment, as well as telephone and electrical lines in the vicinity.

The machine belongs to a company that was awarded a concession for a water supply project in the area. Police did not rule out business conflict as a reason but generally, violence attacks in the deep South are blamed on the insurgents.