BANGKOK - Two policemen were killed in an explosion on Monday when attempting to defuse a bomb in southern Thailand.

The incident occurred about 9:50 am local time in Bacho district of the restive Narathiwat province. The two victims belonged to a bomb disposal unit, local media reported.

Thailand's Muslim, ethnic-Malay dominated three southern border provinces - Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla have been plagued with violence since 2004, with more than 5,000 people killed and over 9,000 injured.