6 Slain as Troops, Police Clash With Rioters

Security forces opened fire during a riot of 2,000 Muslim youths in southern Thailand, leaving six people dead, officials said.

The trouble in Narathiwat province began as protesters at a district police station demanded the release of six men accused of stealing weapons, even though officials said they had been sent to the provincial capital.

The crowd began throwing rocks and debris, overturned a military truck and tried to storm the building. Police and soldiers fired water cannons and tear gas at the crowd and shot in the air to scatter the rioters.