the army said, the latest attacks in the insurgency-hit region. A low-level conflict since 2004 has killed thousands of people as rebels in the Muslim-majority region bordering Malaysia battle for greater autonomy. Several bombs exploded within a 40-minute period after midnight on Sunday, igniting 11 petrol stations across Thailand's southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, an army statement said. Authorities did not announce any arrests or say who may be behind the attacks.

"It happened almost at the same time. A group of an unknown number of men came and detonated bombs which damaged fuel pumps," Narathiwat Governor Boonchauy Homyamyen told local media, adding that one police officer was injured in the province.  A firefighter and two petrol station employees were injured in Pattani province, the army said. All four were admitted to hospitals, none with serious injuries, a Thai army spokesman told AFP. Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters that security agencies believed the attacks were a "signal" timed with elections for local administrators taking place on Sunday, and "not aimed at insurgency".

The army's commander in the south, Narathip Phoynok, told reporters he ordered security measures raised to the "maximum level in all areas" including at road checkpoints and borders. The nation's deep south is culturally distinct from the rest of Buddhist-majority Thailand, which took control of the region more than a century ago.  The area is heavily policed by Thai security forces -- the usual targets of insurgent attacks. (Bssnews)