Two people of Chinese nationality were shot dead in Thailand's insurgent deep south on Friday, confirmed the Chinese Embassy to Thailand.
   
The two victims were among three Chinese selling Muslim prayer carpets on a market in the southern province of Narathiwat, a Chinese embassy official told Xinhua.
   
Their business was interrupted by four gunmen riding two motorcycles into the market in the Rangae District of Narathiwat, lying some 1,000 kilometers south of Bangkok.
   
The four gunmen opened fire and shot at the two Chinese traders in their heads, who died immediately.
   
The four gunmen then run away from the scene and the authorities were still going on with investigation.
   
It's the second time that Chinese nationals were attacked in southern Thailand's insurgency.
   
Two Chinese were wounded by gunmen in Narathiwat one year ago, when they were selling blankets to locals.
   
Thailand's deep south has fallen into spiraling violence since the beginning of last year, when revived separatists started non-stop violence targeting security forces, government staff and civilians.
   
The violence has killed more than 800 people over the past 21 months.
   
Many business and markets have been closed on Friday in the south, for unidentified militants warned locals, mostly Muslim, not to open business on the day, threatening with killing and wounding.

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2005)