The police has tightened security around the Thai embassy here after threats that it would be bombed and the ambassador assassinated, police said today.

Similar threats had been made against the Thai embassy in Singapore, a senior security police spokesman told AFP on the traditional condition of anonymity.

The threats were made in a letter to the embassy from a little-known separatist group called the Pattani Liberation Front (PLF), the spokesman said.

"We have taken all precautionary action, beefed up security at the embassy and will have additional patrols," he said.

"We believe that this is small, individuals perhaps, but we take all such threats seriously. We dont take chances."

Upsurge in violence

Thai sources said the PLF, one of many small separatist organisations and splinter groups operating in the south of Thailand, was formed in 1960 and is based in the Muslim-majority provinces strung along the Malaysian border.

A full-blown Muslim insurgency raged in the south until the 1980s. A government campaign successfully quashed the movement but in recent years militant activity has increased.

This year has seen an alarming upsurge in violence, with arson attacks, shootings and highly organised raids leaving at least 65 people dead, mostly government officials and security forces.

The Thai embassy said no senior officials were available to speak to reporters. - AFP