March 21, 2008
YALA, Thailand - Four people, including two police officers, were killed in attacks by suspected separatists in the south on Friday, officials said.
The officers, a Buddhist and a Muslim, were killed in a 10-minute gun battle with militants in Yala.
The body of a suspected militant was found after the shoot-out as security forces searched the area for other rebels.
The clash came after an imam was shot dead at a mosque in nearby Pattani province late Thursday, police said.
Militants often target Muslims perceived as supportive of the government in mainly Buddhist Thailand, according to AFP.
The conflict has claimed more than 3,000 lives since it began in January 2004.
