GUWAHATI, India, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Suspected separatists killed four policemen and two civilians on Friday in an ambush on their vehicle in India's restive northeastern state of Manipur, security officials said.

One of the dead civilians was an election official who on Thursday had helped run the first of three phases of voting in state polls. He had been travelling with the police officers.

The attack took place on a mountain highway 80 km (50 miles) from Imphal, Manipur's capital.

A security official said he suspected the United National Liberation Front, which is fighting for the independence of Manipur's majority Meitei community, carried out the attack.

More than 20,000 people been killed in militancy-related violence over four decades in the tiny state bordering Myanmar.

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