Thai military kills 19 militants who attacked base

BANGKOK (AP) -- Authorities in Thailand say soldiers killed 19 insurgents who launched a major attack on a military base in the country's violence-plagued south.

The death toll was the biggest inflicted on the Muslim guerrillas since fighting began nearly a decade ago.

Col. Pramote Promin said Wednesday that a group of about 50 militants wearing military-like uniforms raided a marine corps base in Bacho district in Narathiwat province late Tuesday night.

Pramote says the shootout ended with at least 19 militants killed while the rest fled.

He says soldiers who fended off the attack suffered no casualties.