Thailand rocked by bomb blasts.

Twin bomb blasts ripped through a town in Thailand's south, killing two people and wounding dozens in the latest violence of a six-year insurgency.

The rebellion across the southern provinces, by a shadowy band of separatist Islamists fighting for greater autonomy in the area bordering Malaysia, has left more than 4,100 people dead.

There have been fewer attacks recently in the south because insurgents knew their cause had been overshadowed by two months of deadly anti-government protests in Bangkok, said analyst Srisompob Jitpiromya.

At least 55 people were wounded five seriously yesterday in the blasts in Yala, the main town in the province of the same name, said the provincial hospital.

The bombs were hidden on motorcycles and exploded near the business district of the town, police said, pointing the finger at Islamist militants.

"Provincial authorities had been warned of the attack beforehand, but the warning was for May 28 to 30," said Krisada Boonrach, the Yala governor.

"Currently there is an 11-day provincial fair until June 5 and as security is strict in the town centre, the militants chose to attack in the outer part of town."

The first bomb detonated at 10.15am in front of a car showroom and the second went off close by ten minutes later, wounding rescue workers and police who had come to investigate the first attack.

The rebels have targeted both Buddhists and Muslims with shootings, bombings and gruesome methods such as beheadings and crucifixions.

There is no link to the anti-government Red Shirt protests in the Thai capital, which were broken up last week by the army and had sparked several outbreaks of violence that left 88 people dead.

"In the last few days they've tried to increase their operations because the situation in Bangkok has quieted down," said Srisompob, of Deep South Watch, an independent monitoring group.

"In the coming days or weeks maybe there will be more attacks. That's the tactics of the insurgency."

The region was an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate until it was annexed in 1902, by mainly Buddhist Thailand, and tensions have bubbled since.

Life begins to return to normal in Bangkok

Britain has urged its nationals to avoid "all but essential travel" to Bangkok, easing a warning made last week not to visit the Thai capital under any circumstances.

The revised advice came after the end of mass rallies by anti-government Red Shirt protesters, which were broken up by the army last week.

"We are now advising against all but essential travel to Bangkok," said Britain's Foreign Office in a statement. "This replaces the previous advice, which advised against all travel to Bangkok."

"Although the situation in Bangkok is returning to normal, it is still unpredictable," it warned.

The advice does not apply to transiting the airport en route to other destinations.

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