| Unidentified militants shot dead two people and unleashed firebombs in Muslim-dominated southern Thailand, where officials fear a revived separatist movement has taken root, officials said Thursday. Authorities arrested two unidentified suspects - a religious school teacher and a student at a traditional Muslim school, or pondok - after half a dozen attacks, police and military officials told a press conference in southern Pattani province. Firebombs used in some of Wednesday's attacks caused only minor damage to a restaurant and the homes of a police colonel and an army colonel, said Deputy Region 4 Army Chief Maj. Kwanchart Klaharn. The assailants also detonated a remote-controlled bomb near a police rest area, he said, adding that police accounts suggested many of the attacks were coordinated. Kwanchart said police had expected a group of religious teachers to ``lead their followers'' in arson and firebomb attacks, but said villagers cooperated with police to help contain further violence. |