Deadly clashes in the south

According to a report by Aljazeera deadly clashes broke out on Saturday afternoon in Narathiwat after a combined army, police and paramilitary group tried to search the village.

During a fierce gun battle between Thai security forces and fighters six people, including two policemen were shot dead. The area is one of the most severe conflict prone provinces in the Muslim majority region.

Colonel Pramote Prom-In told the AFP news agency that it was a big gun battle that lasted a long time. He went on to say “The dead were on our wanted list” and added that a further seven suspects were arrested in the raid.

Groups of Muslim fighters are calling for autonomy for the region and have waged bomb and gun attacks on almost a daily basis. Their targets are security forces and civilians from both the Buddhist and Muslim communities. Over 5,700 people have lost their lives in the clashes over the last decade despite several rounds of peace talks hosted by Malaysia between Thai authorities and one of a network of rebel groups

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