Cabinet yesterday extended the state of emergency in the deep South for another three months.
Meanwhile, a policeman was killed and a marine injured in an ambush at a joint security outpost on Monday night in Narathiwat's Muang district.
Police Snr Sgt-Major Cherdsak Singbunta, 55, was killed at the scene, while marine Ek Nimnual has become paralysed from brain damage caused by a head shot.
Cherdsak was promoted posthumously to the rank of police colonel and his funeral is scheduled for today in his home province of Amnat Charoen.
A joint security blockade was carried out yesterday to hunt down a team of insurgents in neighbouring Ba Choh district. A firefight ensued after officials located eight insurgents in the jungle, before they retreated and fled. No casualties were reported on either side.
Police said later that the eight were possibly led by Waheh Kadeng and Marosoh Jantharawadee, senior RKK commandos much wanted by authorities.
Found at their campsite among a number of cooking utensils was a magazine of an HK-33 assault rifle. The fully loaded magazine carries a serial number linking it to an insurgent ambush two years ago, in which Police Snr Sgt-Major Osama Saleh was killed and had his rifle and accessories stolen.