Thailand braces for more violence in Muslim south

BANGKOK, Dec 7 (Reuters) Militants in Thailand's Muslim south are expected to intensify their attacks this month to counter a government peace drive, army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said today.

Sonthi, the first Muslim to head the Thai Army, told reporters the separatists were ramping up their attacks to win back support as the government he appointed after a September 19 coup revamped its policies and structure in the region.

''We are crossing one crucial dividing line. If we can cross this one successfully, the problem will be completely solved,'' Sonthi said after almost three years of violence in which more than 1,700 people have been killed.

Earlier this week, Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said militants had changed their targets to towns from villages to have more impact against the new government's peace drive.

''We cannot separate the fish from the water yet, although there aren't many fish,'' Boonrawd said.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has visited the region several times, first to apologise for the hard line against the insurgency by ousted predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra.

He has also promised a place for Islamic law in the region, an independent sultanate until annexed by Thailand a century ago, and considerable autonomy while ruling out independence.

REUTERS PDM BD1625