Thai forces kill 4 Islamic militants in raid

PATTANI, Thailand – Thai police say security forces have killed four suspected Islamic militants during an operation in the country's restive south.

Police Col. Chalermkiat Amarakrasin says a combined force of more than 100 soldiers and police raided a jungle hideout Friday in southern Yala province and killed four militants during a gunbattle.

Chalermkiat says weapons were also seized during the operation but he gave no other details.

More than 4,200 people have been killed in predominantly Buddhist Thailand's three Muslim-dominated southern provinces since an Islamist insurgency erupted in 2004.