BANGKOK, March 25 (Xinhua) -- At least one policeman was killed and four others were injured Saturday as unidentified gunmen attacked a police vehicle carrying dozens of policemen who just cast ballots for the April 2 snap election in Thai southern province of Narathiwat.

    The attack occurred at about 6:00 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) in Narathiwat's Ra-ngae district while about 40 policemen were on their way back from casting their ballots ahead of next Sunday's snap election.

    The policeman was killed on the spot, a local military source told Xinhua.

    The gunmen ran away before the military and police launched a manhunt.

    Eligible voters across the country who have registered for advance balloting can cast their votes on March 25-26 in their respective areas.

    At least 1,200 people have been killed since unrest broke out in January 2004 in the mainly Muslim provinces along Thailand's border with Malaysia. The violence was blamed on a complex web of Islamic separatists, local corruption and organized crime. Enditem