17 militants die in attack on Thai base

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BANGKOK, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Thai marines, tipped off in advance, repulsed a major attack on their base by Islamic militants Wednesday, killing at least 17 of them, the military said.

"Some 100 fully armed militants stormed the base, where there were 60 marines," Col. Pramote Promin said.

He said there were no casualties among the Thai soldiers in the early morning battle at the base in the Bacho district of Narathiwat, the Bangkok Post reported.

"We learned of the attack in advance from defected militants," Pramote told Thai television.

"We were able to secure the camp. All of our forces are safe," he said.

The attack came three days after a car bomb attack in the village of Yala killed five Thai soldiers and wounded one soldier and two civilians, the newspaper said.