Bomb kills soldier, injures 11 others in Thai South

A bomb thought to be planted by separatist insurgents exploded in Thailand's troubled southern province of Natathiwat Sunday killing one Thai Army soldier and wounding 11 people, including three Buddhist monks on their morning alms rounds, police said.

The incident occurred at about 6:30 am (1130 GMT) when a five- kilogram bomb hidden in a plastic garbage bin was triggered by mobile phone, and exploded in front of a plastic shop here.

Three monks who were receiving alms nearby at the time of the incident, five soldiers and four villagers, were wounded by fragments of the bomb, police said.

One wounded soldier died en route to hospital, while other victims have been treated at local hospitals.

This morning incident took place despite assurances by the interim government of Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont that it is seeking to find a peaceful solution to end the conflict in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces, which has led to the death of more than 1,700 people since January 2004.

Source: Xinhua