Thailand:Thailand's military-installed government blamed former politicians yesterday for a series of bombs that killed three people in Bangkok and wounded 38, including nine foreigners, and ruined new year celebrations.
Prime minister Surayud Chulanont said intelligence pointed to politicians who had lost power, not Muslim militants waging a separatist insurgency in the far south, but he admitted the government did not know exactly who was responsible.
Mr Surayud declined to say what evidence pointed to former politicians less than five months after a bloodless coup ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra whose supporters, he said, might have been involved.
Police with sniffer dogs patrolled stations on the urban mass transit system yesterday.
"I feel fear," said 45-year-old commuter Sinjai, who went to work but told her family to stay home. "I'm not confident in the government's security system."
All eight of the small New Year's Eve time-bombs were made of ammonium nitrate fertiliser and triggered by digital watches. Nine foreigners were among the wounded - four Hungarians, three Serbs and two Britons, police said.
With an eye on Thailand's lucrative tourist trade, which attracts about 12 million visitors a year, police chief Achiravit Supanpasat said his men would ensure the streets were safe.
"We are the police. We know who is good or bad by looking," he said.
- (Reuters)