Thaksin rejects peace talks offer for south

"I don't know (about the offer) and my government has no policy" for such talks, Thaksin told reporters in Bangkok when asked if his government would accept a call for negotiations with a rebel group.

Thaksin was responding to an offer made in a media interview in Sweden on Monday by a man claiming to be the foreign policy chief for the separatist group Patani United Liberation Organisation or PULO.

"I have never heard of this group," Thaksin said, adding Bangkok would continue countering the unrest by increasing crackdowns and arrests of militants.

Supreme Commander General Reangroj Mahasaranont reiterated Thailand would not negotiate with any separatist groups.

"I don't think it's possible as the Thai government has a policy not to hold talks with such groups," Reangroj was quoted by a domestic television channel as saying Wednesday.

Their stance came as a Muslim government employee was shot and killed in front of his home in Thailand's restive southernmost provinces by suspected Islamic militants, police said.

Bahem Kalem, 35, was shot several times with an assault rifle and died instantly in Pattani province Tuesday evening, police said, adding he was part of a job creation scheme run by the regional border security body.

"We have already issued an arrest warrant for one suspect concerning this case" but made no arrests, Colonel Thawal Nakhonthrawong, superintendent of Nong Chik district police, told AFP.