YALA, March 19 — Two suspected insurgents were shot dead early Saturday, while two others escaped, following fierce fighting with combined security forces in the restive southern province of Yala, police said.

Police said the clash occurred at about 6.30am after more than 30 security combined force on an investigative operation surrounded a house in Bannang Sata district after they had received a tip off that suspected armed insurgents were hiding there. Four armed gunmen were seen leaving the house during the search.

The gunmen fired at the security force when they were asked to surrender, police said. Both sides exchanged gunfire for about 15 minutes, afterwards police found two gunmen killed and seized three M16 rifles from the scene of the incident.

MCOT