DPM orders security beef up in Thai South

BANGKOK, August 2 (TNA) - Thai security officials have been ordered to intensify their measures in violence-plagued southern border provinces, especially Songkhla, said Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa on Thursday. The order came after intelligence sources informed that Hat Yai district of Songkhla province could be the next target of insurgent attack following the car bombing at CS Pattani Hotel in Pattani province last Tuesday night. General Yutthasak, who supervises security affairs, however, asserted that situations are currently under control and a curfew is not needed in the region, although, he said, a curfew could be imposed in in specific area in the future if violence escalated. Meanwhile, over 1,000 security officials have been deployed in Hat Yai district following the car bomb rumour. At Hat Yai Airport, soldiers, police and security guards closely monitored all vehicles and motorists entering the airport to prevent any untoward incident. All visitors to the passenger terminal and their baggage are scanned by X-ray machine at security checkpoint. (TNA)