Violence continues in Thailand
From Tom Mintier
CNN Bangkok Bureau Chief
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Thai police examine the explosion site in Pattani proviince, Thailand, on Monday.
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BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- A group of armed men attacked a police station in Yala province, hitting it with grenades and automatic weapons fire, police said.
The pre-dawn gunbattle erupted around 2 a.m. when about 30 armed men opened fire on the Aiyaveng police station about 1,200 Kilometers (745 miles) South of Bangkok. The firefight lasted about 10 minutes and there were no casualties, according to police.
The attack on the police station is the latest event in the most widespread violence to hit the region since 1993. Martial law was declared in three southern provinces late Monday.
Earlier Monday, two policemen were killed and several other people were wounded in at least two explosions in Pattani province.
Police say one officer died while trying to defuse a bomb while two other bombs were reportedly found before they could go off.
The bombings come after 21 schools were burned and a military armory was raided in a neighboring province.
Four Thai soldiers were killed Sunday in the raid on the army base, where more than 100 weapons were stolen.
The killings and the violence in southern Thailand are the most widespread since 39 schools were set on fire in 1993.
The Thai government has set a 7 day deadline for the capture of those responsible for attacks and raids.
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has dispatched top security officials, including the head of the Thai army, to the southern provinces to work on the operation. The Thai army is setting up a forward command center in Pattani.
