Two people have been killed in the latest bloodshed in Thailand's restive deep South while more militants surrendered to authorities.

The suspected Muslim militants shot dead a 40-year-old man riding a motorcycle through a rubber plantation in Raman district of Yala province Thursday.

The man was a former army ranger who converted from Buddhism to Islam in 1993, a police officer was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.

In a separate attack, former teacher Sawat Bunsawat and his wife were attacked by two young motorcyclists on a road in Waeng district of Narathiwat province.

Sawat's body was found in a pool of blood with fatal gunshot wounds on it. His wife narrowly escaped the shooting.

Meanwhile, another 34 suspected militants on Thursday turned themselves in to authorities in Narathiwat, bringing the total number of surrenders to 111 since the emergency decree was implemented two months ago.

Officials said 25 of them are from Chanae district and the rest from Sungai Padi district.

After background checks, the militants will be given special treatment to make them more cooperative with the government, said Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Chidchai Wannasathit.

They will also be trained under a government-sponsored employment scheme, said local officials.

Source: Xinhua