Thailand's move to register owners of mobile phones from Nov 15 has seen 'southern insurgents' change their tactics, said Prime Minister Thanksin Shinawatra.

A Thai News Agency report quoted him as saying that trouble makers have realised there is a time limit on their previous practice of detonating explosives via mobile phones. Instead, they now place explosives at targeted sites.

"The insurgents understand now that they can no longer detonate bombs through cell phone usage, even those using Malaysian SIM cards so they have to change their tactics," he said ahead of his departure yesterday for Narathiwat province.

Thaksin called a meeting with local senior security officers to review amended military strategies when he arrived in Narathiwat, according to the report picked up by Bernama .

He is scheduled to take part in Buddhist religious rites in several local temples today and will have an audience with the Queen during his stay.