Three Thai soldiers were killed and another seriously injured in a rebel attack Thursday in Thailand's southern province of Pattani, a day after five policemen were slain in the same province, officials said.
They said the paramilitary rangers were helping villagers repair a building in a local village in Yarang district when they were attacked by a group of around six insurgents in a pickup truck.
At least two of the insurgents were wounded in an exchange of fire with the rangers, but all of them escaped.
The incident comes a day after five policemen were shot dead in Thungyangdaeng district of Pattani.
Nearly 6,000 people have been killed in the predominantly Muslim provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat since the separatist insurgency broke out in 2004.
Most people living in the three provinces are ethnic Malays who share cultural, linguistic and religious affinities with people across the border in Malaysia.
Despite the start of peace talks between the government and separatists in February, facilitated by Malaysia, attacks on government forces and state-run institutions in the three provinces have continued.