Thai soldiers kill 2 suspected Muslim militants

Pattani: Two suspected Muslim militants were killed by security officials in a gunbattle that broke out on Saturday in Thailand's insurgency-plagued south, a military spokesman said.

Colonel Parinya Chaidilok said the gunfire exchange came during a search operation in Narathiwat province's Rue So district.

He said, "The security officials were on a search operation in the area after an attempted ambush nearby."

Chaidilok said dozens of soldiers and policemen were dispatched to track the rest of the assailants who fled. One was later arrested.

An Islamic separatist insurgency in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat has led to the deaths of more than 3,300 people since early 2004.