Bomb in Thai south kills senior government official

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Suspected Muslim rebels in southern Thailand killed a deputy provincial governor and another state official with a roadside bomb on Friday, a week after the government held first formal talks with a rebel group to try to end years of violence.

At least 29 people have died in the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat since February 28 when the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) rebels agreed to hold talks. More than 5,300 people have died since January 2004.