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Bomb-carrying cop killed in blast in northeast Thailand

A policeman died when a bomb he was carrying exploded in northeast Thailand near a house rented by a politician loyal to the ousted prime minister, police said yesterday, while a separate blast hit nearby.

The small bombs come as political allies of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra struggle to form a coalition government after winning last month's general elections but falling just short of an absolute majority in parliament.

The 49-year-old policeman died when the bomb exploded late on Sunday in the town of Nakhon Rachasima, police Colonel Veerawat Peungsuwan said.

The bomb went off about 5m from a house rented by Suporn Atthawong, he added.

The policeman did not work in the district where he died, and investigators were trying to find out why he was carrying a bomb near Suporn's house, Veerawat said.

Suporn, who rents the house when he visits Nakhon Rachasima, said he believed the bomb was intended as retribution over a lawsuit he filed against a local businessman.

"I have no conflicts with anyone else. This businessman is the only person I have a problem with, and that case is in court," he told Thai television.

Suporn also survived a shooting last year, which he believed stemmed from another dispute.

Suporn was a senior member of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party. After the coup in September 2006, he was barred from politics by a military-appointed court and has not appeared involved in Thailand's current political problems.

In nearby Buriram Province, also on Sunday night, a bomb was thrown into a building owned by a member of Puea Pandin party, which won a handful of seats in the Dec. 23 elections.

"The bomb injured no one and caused slight damage," Police Colonel Tanawut Tuamsomboon said. "Police believe it was a threat against the candidate as a by-election will be held on January 17."

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont warned yesterday that intelligence reports suggested further violence.

"I have asked the police to be more strict on security after intelligence reports pointed to the possibility of more violence," he told reporters.

"But we don't know yet who will create it, or whether it will be linked to politics," he said.
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