Anupong admits army ammunition used in attack on Sondhi

Three spent cartridge cases found at the scene of the attack on People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader Sondhi Limthongkul came from an infantry division based near Bangkok, army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda admitted on Thursday.

Twenty bullet casings were found at the scene of the attack on Mr Sondhi last Friday, and three of them were M16 assault rifle ammunition used by the army.

"Based on investigations, three of them were M16 bullets which were distributed in the First Army Region to the 9th Infantry Division,"  Gen Anupong told reporters.

The M16 assault rifle is standard issue in the Thai military.

"As far as I know the bullets were distributed for drill practice.

''However, there are many units in this infantry division and at this moment how the bullets were leaked is still under investigation," he said.

Gen Anupong said the army would prosecute those involved in the theft of the ammunition.

Mr Sondhi and his assistant were injured when up to seven gunmen riding in two pick-up trucks sprayed his car with automatic gunfire in Bangkok about 5am on Friday. His driver was critically wounded and remains in intensive care.

Mr Sondhi's co-leaders in the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) said last week they believed "men in uniform" were to blame, a suspicion now echoed by local media commentators.

In recent weeks the PAD has called for a shake-up within army ranks.

But Sondhi also has enemies in the business community and among the rival red-shirt  movement,  loyal to ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, which organised huge street protests this month.

Mr Sondhi said Thursday he would hold a news conference next week about the attack.

 PAD member Veera Somkwamkid earlier said Mr Sondhi told him he had seen  who attacked him and remembered all the details.

Mr Sondhi did not duck down behind the driver's seat to escape the hail of bullets and saw everything that happened, he said.