18 RKK suspects held in South

Security forces in the deep South province of Narathiwat have detained 18 suspected insurgent operatives, including two local politicians.

A military spokesman said they were arrested in Sungai Padi District after more than 400 soldiers and police searched dozens of houses in a red zone area regarded as a hotbed for militants and hideouts.

A former mayor of the local Paluru Tambon Administrative Organisation (TAO) and another local political official were among those detained, said the official.

They are believed to be the local leaders of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil, a violent, insurgent operating group.

He said all those detained were sent to the Inkayut Army Camp in Pattani for interrogation.

"The operation was held in Sungai Padi due to the increase in violence in the past few weeks. We got good cooperation from the villagers who provided us with information on the insurgents operating in their area," he said.

Since June, the authorities have detained more than 500 people in the three provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani provinces in sweeping operations targeted at the insurgents who are waging a guerilla war to seek independence for the three Muslim-majority provinces.

More than 2,600 people have been killed since the separatists resumed their campaign in January 2004.

He said the police and army have intensified checks in several places, including railway tracks in Yala, Sungai Golok and Tanjong Mas, following intelligence reports that insurgents wanted to attack during the Eid al-Fitr festival period this weekend.

On the 22 bombs found in Hat Yai two days ago, the official said it is believed they had nothing to do with the separatist movement as the explosives were different from those normally used in the southern violence.

A police source in Hat Yai said the authorities found five bombs near the Prince of Songkhla University, and 12 and five others at two other locations respectively.

"We think it is more about creating chaos in the area. The bombs were hidden there and were not ready to be used yet," it said. (Agencies)