Emergency in Thai Muslim provinces

Invoking new powers, the government declared an emergency in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani provinces plus four districts in neighbouring Songkhla province, where at least 810 people have died in violence since January 2004.

"The decree will cover every district in the three provinces, plus four neighbouring districts in Songkhla province. Those districts also need monitoring, because something could happen," Interior Minister Chidchai Vanasathidya told reporters.

The government had been expected to announce 'emergency zones' within the provinces rather than declaring the whole provinces under emergency rule.