Bangkok: At least fifteen people were killed and another four injured in attacks by suspected Muslim rebels in Thailand's violence-wracked south, an army spokesman said on Wednesday, the largest death toll in years. The Malay-Muslim south has been in the grip of a bloody insurgency that has killed more than 7,000 people over the last 15 years.

Late Tuesday militants struck two checkpoints in Yala province manned by civil defence volunteers, opening fire on them as a group of villagers stopped to talk, southern army spokesman Pramote Prom-in told AFP. "Twelve were killed at the scene, two more (died) at the hospital, and one died this morning," said Pramote, adding that the rebels took M-16 rifles and shotguns from the checkpoints.