Fearing revenge attacks, army pours troops into south Thailand

FEARING revenge attacks, the army poured reinforcements into southern Thailand yesterday as grieving families buried their dead and rights groups and Muslim preachers condemned the killings of more than 100 suspected Islamic militants.

"It is the beginning of the people's war," prominent Islamic preacher Vithaya Visetrat said.

Defence minister Chettha Thanajaro warned that militants who survived bloody clashes with security forces yesterday could be "waiting for the right time for revenge" and might launch "second and third waves" of violence.