Explosions heard in southern Thailand

Power blackouts and a series of bomb explosions rocked areas of southern Thailand today where a Muslim insurgency has killed more than 2,000 people, officials said.

Power blackouts and a series of bomb explosions rocked areas of southern Thailand today, officials said.

Police Major General Kokiat Wongworachart said areas of Pattani province, including its capital, suffered electricity blackouts.

In neighbouring Yala, police said at least five bombs exploded in the province's main city. Television reports said bombs also went off in Narathiwat province.

There were no reports of deaths in the attacks, but a number of people were injured, according to police and news reports.

The three provinces are at the heart of a separatist insurgency which erupted in early 2004.