Bangkok, Jan 5 (IANS): One soldier was shot dead while four were wounded in a roadside ambush by suspected insurgents in Thailand, Xinhua reported Saturday.
The attack took place Friday night in the restive southern province of Pattani, according to the Thai News Agency.
A group of seven soldiers were leaving their base on an army truck to change shifts with other soldiers when an unknown number of assailants opened fire at them./
Private Saravut Srinakorn, 22, died at the spot.
Police blamed separatists for the crime.
More than 5,000 people have been killed and 9,000 wounded in over 11,000 incidents in Thailand's three southern border provinces -- Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat since violence erupted in January 2004, media reports say.