A former Member of Parliament (MP) of Thai southern province of Narathiwat was shot dead Saturday morning by several gunmen riding motorcycles, local media reported.

The MP, in his 50's, was shot several times on his chest by four unidentified gunmen when he was just walking outside his resident in Narathiwat's Cha Nae district on Saturday morning, local police source was quoted by Thai Radio FM 100 as saying.

The former politician was killed on the spot.

Thailand's three southernmost provinces -- Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani have been troubled with insurgency-related violence which has claimed more than 2,200 lives so far since it resumed in early 2004.

Source: Xinhua