Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand’s prime minister, on Sunday said he would not negotiate with insurgents in the south of the country, despite his government’s struggle to contain a surge in attacks in the violence-wrecked region.

Six people were killed on Saturday, the last of 30 victims in a week which started with 10 worshippers killed by gunmen in a mosque on Monday and degenerated into a series of attacks on teachers, policemen and minor government officials – the common targets of insurgents. On Friday morning, a 60-year-old Buddhist monk was gunned down as he begged for alms.