Thai PM makes emergency trip

Thai PM makes emergency trip

THAILAND: Thailand's prime minister made an emergency trip to the
country's troubled Muslim-dominated south on Friday, officials
said, after the death toll from escalating violence in the region
climbed to 34 this year.

Thaksin Shinawatra flew to Narathiwat province just hours
after local Muslim leaders announced they would resume
cooperation with authorities investigating a series of attacks in
the area, security officials said on condition of anonymity.

Last Sunday, the Islamic leaders had pledged to stop working
with government officials looking into the attacks in the
country's southernmost provinces because they found their tactics
heavy-handed and disrespectful.

Elders from the Islamic councils of Pattani, Yala and
Narathiwat provinces said they would begin cooperating again
after they deliver a letter to Thaksin suggesting how local
leaders can best work with officials. They didn't say when the
letter would be sent. --AP