Thais convinced Muslim insurgents hiding in Malaysia

Thailand says the ringleaders of a Muslim separatist insurgency are hiding in neighbouring Malaysia, as continuing violence in Thailand's south has claimed the life of another police officer.

Sergeant Somporn Chairakthong was gunned down yesterday, a day after two Buddhist teachers and a local official in the country's southern peninsular region bordering Malaysia were also killed in violence blamed on a separatist movement in Thailand's Muslim-dominated southern provinces.

Somporn was struck by three bullets fired by a motorcycle-mounted gunman as he was driving his own motorcycle to work in Pattani province, the police said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister Sutham Saengprathum reasserted that the Government has obtained photographs of Thai rebels undergoing military training in Malaysia's Kelantan state and that several rebel leaders were also hiding in that state.

Malaysia said that Thailand should hand over the alleged photo evidence.