Two die in separate blasts in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Two people were killed Saturday in two explosions in Yala and Pattani provinces in Thailand, authorities said.

The first was a car bombing in the city of Yala on Saturday afternoon, police said. The man who was driving the car was killed, authorities said. No further details were released.

In Pattani, one person was killed and nine others injured about 8:30 p.m. Saturday when a bomb planted in a parked car exploded, police said.

Another bomb was found inside the restaurant of the CS Pattani Hotel, but authorities were able to defuse it.

The hotel is considered to be in a relatively safe area and is frequented by journalists and government officials.

The owner, a senator who sustained minor injuries, said the incident might have stemmed from a local political issue. E-mail to a friend