28/07/2012 at 07:22 PM | Bangkok Posts

Southern carnage continues - Four soldiers slain in Pattani

Militants shot dead four soldiers and wounded two others early Saturday in Pattani, an army spokesman said, as the surge in violence since the start of Ramadan continued.

The six soldiers of the No. 1532 special task force were patrolling on three motorcycles on the Mayo-Palas road in Ban Duwa of tambon Thanom when gunmen opened fire on them with war weapons.

About 20 armed militants on three pickup trucks opened fire at the team of soldiers once they got close to them.

Four soldiers were killed in the attack and two more were wounded as they returned fire.
The attackers took the slain soldiers' weapons and then fled the scene after a brief gun battle.

Sgt Luechai Junthong, Pvt Ekkarat Sitongmai, Pvt Pasim Hongmak and Pvt Benjarong Sikaew were killed on the spot. Sgt Preeda Noppakhun and Pvt Akhom Chuklom were seriously injured and taken to Mayo hospital.

The insurgents also threw spikes on roads leading to the village in a move to delay assistance from the authorities, police said.

The incident came after a roadside bomb killed five policemen in nearby Yala on Wednesday.

Since Ramadan began on July 20, 19 people have been killed, inlcuding nine civilians.