NARATHIWAT, Thailand – A 90kg roadside bomb killed three policemen on patrol in Narathiwat's Ruso district Friday (March 15th). The army suspects the attack may have been carried out by hardline militants opposed to opening peace talks with the Thai government later this month, AFP reported.

Investigators say the bomb was detonated by remote control as the patrol passed by in a pickup truck.

Southern regional army spokesman Colonel Pramote Promin blamed the blast on rebels outside of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, a group that has agreed to sit down and talk peace on March 28th in Malaysia.

"There are insurgents who do not agree with their leaders on joining the peace process and (therefore) try to incite more unrest," he said.