7 Thais shot dead in south

A couple was shot dead as they rode their bicycles to their rubber plantation in Yala, one of three provinces bordering Malaysia that has been plagued by separatist violence and other unrest for more than two years.

The wife was killed instantly, while the husband died later in hospital, police said.

Also in Yala, an engineer with the provincial electricity authority was shot dead as he drove his pick-up truck to work, and another rubber worker, who was also a national defence volunteer, was shot and killed at his plantation.

All four were killed in the same district. Police Colonel Anurut Im-Ab said the police and army presence in the area had been stepped up after rumours of yet more attacks Monday.