BANGKOK, Oct 26 (AFP) - At least 84 people died, mostly through suffocation, after being rounded up by security forces following a violent protest in Thailand's strife-hit Muslim-majority south, Thai officials said Tuesday.
The death toll was the worst in the separatist insurgency since April 28, when 108 suspected Muslim separatists and five security forces were killed during a rebellion. Some 414 people have now died this year in violence linked to the unrest.
A separatist insurgency raged in the region until the 1980s when a government campaign largely ended the movement, but it exploded early this year with a series of raids, arson attacks and murders.
Following is a list of major events in this year's separatist violence:

Jan 4, 2004:
Unknown gunmen storm a military arms depot in southern Thailand's Narathiwat province, stealing hundreds of weapons and killing four soldiers, and torch 18 schools, sparking what analysts say is a revival of the separatist movement. Martial law is enforced in several districts.

Jan 16:
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi meets Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra and pledges to boost cooperation on security matters after Thai officials warn that "terrorists" may have slipped across the border into Malaysia after committing the attacks.

Feb 15:
Attackers shoot dead a village official and two government telecommunications workers shortly after a surprise visit to the region by Thaksin.

Feb 24:
Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej expresses concern over the violence to Thaksin and urges all parties to work together to solve the troubles.

March 18:
Arsonists torch 36 government buildings two days after Thaksin's cabinet meeting in the south announces new financial aid for the region. The package is suspended.

March 19:
Thaksin sacks his national police chief and southern army commander for failing to rein in the violence.

March 25:
An arrest warrant is issued for Najmuddin Umar, a prominent Muslim member of Thaksin's ruling Thai Rak Thai party, over the deadly January 4 attack. He eventually surrenders and his case is pending.

March 27:
A bomb wounds 28 people including Malaysian tourists at a nightlife district near the border between the two countries.

April 28:
Some 108 Muslim militants are killed in clashes with security forces and a bloody raid on a mosque. Five security forces are also killed when lightly armed militants, mostly young men, storm 10 police stations and security checkpoints in coordinated dawn attacks.

May 17:
Bombs rock three Buddhist temples, igniting fears of mounting sectarian violence.

May 29:
Attackers behead an elderly Buddhist rubber tapper -- the first attack of its kind -- and vow more such killings if Muslims continue to be arrested for the months-long unrest.

June 2:
Thai defence minister scraps planned peace talks with separatists.

July 4:
A Thai village chief is shot dead in the south, pushing the death toll past 200.

Aug 3:
The government promises to pay compensation to the families of 32 Muslim militants massacred at the Krue Se mosque, after it admitted using excessive force when they stormed the building during the April 28 rebellion.

Aug 24
Thailand's army chief, a cousin of Thaksin, is sacked for failing to halt the deadly violence, as a deputy premier declares the unrest Thailand's worst for 50 years.

Aug 26:
A bomb rips through a food market in Narathiwat, killing one and injuring at least 24 ahead of a visit to the south by Thaksin.

Sept 17:
A judge is shot dead in Pattani province, the first senior justice official killed during the violence.

Oct 6:
Thaksin dumps his defence minister, less than seven months after his appointment, for failing to end the violence.

Oct 25:
Hospital sources say six Muslim protesters are killed when about 1,000 security forces break up a large demonstration outside a police station in Narathiwat.

Oct 26:
Thai authorities revise the death toll from the demonstration to 84, with most victims suffocating in the back of security force trucks after they were arrested by police and troops.

10/26/2004 13:20 GMT - AFP