BANGKOK, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Hidden factors, especially drug addiction, were a major cause of the ongoing violence in Thailand's deep South, Thai acting Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said Saturday.

    The acting prime minister, who is also caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, was quoted by the official Thai News Agecny as saying that Thai government officials are working closely with Muslim religious leaders in the region to prevent drug addicts from becoming prey of militants.

    He said reports gathered on this issue by Thai intelligence officials were similar with those received by Malaysian authorities.

    "Segregation and drugs have been long standing problems in the region," Chidchai told journalists, referring to Thailand's southernmost provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani. "It has been learned that an influential group has given financial support to the militants."

    He said Thai officials believed arms training to militants were being held along the border and intelligence officers were ordered to work harder to obtain more evidence.

    As schools will reopen for the new term in middle May, Chidchai said security officers, especially the Southern Border Provinces Peacekeeping Command (SBPPC), are holding regular meetings with Muslim religious teachers to improve protective measures for teachers and students.

    At least 1,200 people have been killed since unrest broke out in January 2004 in the three mainly Muslim provinces along Thailand's border with Malaysia. The violence was blamed on a complex web of Islamic separatists, local corruption and organized crime.

    On Saturday, two bombs exploded across Thailand's border province of Narathiwat while another two were respectively confirmed defused and fake. At least five soldiers injured and a local resident house collapsed after the violent incidents. Enditem