News In Brief
| Yala, Thailand
650 rebels surrender to Thailand's Army
The Thai government Wednesday accepted the formal surrender of about 650 communist guerrillas and Muslim separatists in this southern Thai town. The surrender took place in a festive atmosphere, with an elephant show, Thai dancing, and traditional martial-arts display preceding the pledge of allegiance.
The southern Thai provinces have been troubled in recent years because of a struggle to establish an independent Islamic state.
