- Thailand's junta chief on Friday called a series of bombings that killed four people in 24 hours an attempt to trigger unrest in a country blighted by a decade-long political crisis. 

"The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion," junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha told reporters in Bangkok after nine explosions rattled across the country, in the resort town of Hua Hin and several southern provinces. 

"Why have the bombs occurred as our country is heading towards stability, a better economy and tourism -- and who did it? You have to find out," he said.

Four people have been killed in the blasts -- two in Hua Hin, one in the island gateway town of Surat Thani, and one in southern Trang, with many others injured. There were also blasts on the tourist island of Phuket.