A car bomb exploded on Friday outside a hotel in southern Thailand, killing three people and wounding 36 others, police said.

A car bomb exploded on Friday outside a hotel in southern Thailand, killing three people and wounding 36 others, police said.

Of the wounded, three were in critical condition, Lieutenant Colonel Sophon Saisuree told AFP by telephone from Betong in Yala province where the blast happened.

"A car bomb went off in front of Holiday Hotel at around 4:00 pm (0900 GMT)", he said.

"We had been informed that there would be unrest in the deep south near the end of Ramadan," Sophon added.