Thailand's caretaker Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana said on Friday that he had not been told of any tip-offs about possible railroad attacks in southern Hat Yai City by southern insurgents later this month.

Kongsak's comment followed unconfirmed reports that bombing is feared to take place at Hat Yai railway station between Sept. 16 and 20, the period marking the anniversary of the founding of the Pattani Islamic Mujahideen Movement.

The interior minister was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that such rumors would only sow further confusion and fears among the deep southern people.

At least 1,500 people have been killed since unrest broke out in January 2004 in three provinces along Thailand's border with Malaysia. The violence was blamed on a complex web of Islamic separatists, local corruption and organized crime.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2006)