Facing new violence and harsh criticism, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has promised to set up an independent commission to investigate the deaths in southern Thailand of 85 accused Muslim rioters, including 78 who died in military detention.

An Islamic leader accused Thai troops of overreacting in a crackdown on rioters that left six people dead, while a military commander said 1,300 people were arrested in the rioting in Thailand’s Muslim-dominated south.