Note to Thailand’s Prime Minister Chulanont Surayud: how’s that apology to Muslims working out for you?

Thailand ‘rebels’ attack schools.

Suspected Muslim insurgents in southern Thailand have burnt down three schools and shot and wounded a teacher.

The attacks took place overnight on Saturday in the Muslim-dominated province of Yala.

They came after Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, installed in an October coup, apologised for the policies of the previous government.

More than 1,500 people have died in violence in the country’s restive south since January 2004.

Three schools were completely gutted and a fourth badly damaged in the blazes which began almost simultaneously during the night.

A police officer told Reuters news agency that four militants had shot the couple and their daughter from the back of motorcycles later on Saturday.