Over 70 dead as Thai muslims launch attacks

Thai police shot and killed more than 70 machete-wielding militants who launched simultaneous pre-dawn raids on security outposts today, in the heaviest fighting yet in the troubled Muslim-dominated south, officials said.

The youths, suspected to be Islamic militants, attacked more than 15 police bases, village defence volunteer outposts and district offices in a bid to rob weapons in Yala, Pattani and Songkhla provinces, said Yala Governor Boonyasit Suwanarat.