4,000 more troops for far south

 Approval for the new troops, mostly Rangers, was made in accordance with a new structure under internal security law, he said. The new troops will join Isoc's forward command.

 Isoc is in the process of structural adjustment to make the Cold War era organisation effective in current security situations, with priority going to the predominantly Muslim region.

Isoc received some Bt 7 billion for its budget this year to help contain the violence. The government already has 60,000 troops in the region.

"I have said clearly that if we still need this sized budget and human resources, it means our task in the deep South has not yet succeeded," Prime Minister Abhisit - who is also chief of Isoc - said.

"When we get to reducing the resources and manpower, it means we are going in the right direction to win the hearts and minds of local people," he said.

More than 3,200 people have been killed in the deep South since early 2004 as authorities struggle to contain the violence.

Isoc believes the separatist BRN-Coordinate orchestrates the conflict to eventually break the provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat away from Thailand.

Prime Minister Abhisit said the government has tried to prevent people younger than 20 from joining the militant movement.

"We have to educate them and use the education to give them opportunities to improve their lives," he said.

Abhisit said the government would discuss plans, measures and projects for youth education and development within a couple of weeks.