Amnesty International says Muslim rebels waging an insurgent campaign in three southern provinces of Thailand have committed war crimes by deliberately targeted civilians.

Nearly 5,000 people have been killed in the provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat since 2004. In a report released Tuesday, the human rights group says civilians from all walks of life, including teachers, civil servants and farmers, have been indiscriminately targeted in the attacks.

The three provinces are dominated by ethnic Malay Muslims who are a minority in Buddhist-dominated Thailand.

Amnesty also accuses Thai security forces of committing torture and other human rights violations in the region.