BANGKOK - A militant was killed and four policemen were wounded in a fight after an ambush in the southern province of Pattani early on Tuesday.

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Pol Col Krisda Kaewchandi, the police chief of Pattani's Khok Pho district, said four policemen on motorcycle patrol on a highway were ambushed by militants hiding on both sides of a road about 12.30 am local time.

A brief exchange of fire followed before the militants withdrew into the forest.

Pol Sr Sgt-Maj Prawit Phetjukul, Pol Sr Sgt-Maj Dulyarat Abuhed, Pol Cpl Thanaphat Natarasuk and Pol L-Cpl Vinai Suriyakul were wounded in the clash. They were immediately admitted to a hospital nearby.

A militant, who was not yet identified, was shot dead. An AK47, an ammunition magazine and a backpack containing survival kit were found near the body.

Police blamed separatist militants for the ambush.

Since the resurgence of insurgency in 2004 in three southernmost provinces, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, altogether more than 4,400 local people have been killed and about 7,000 injured in more than 10,000 violent incidents instigated by suspected secessionists.