Sondhi targeted

A manhunt is under way for a group of heavily armed gunmen who yesterday morning attempted to assassinate People's Alliance for Democracy core leader Sondhi Limthongkul.

The state of emergency will also remain in force in the wake of the attempt on the life of Mr Sondhi, which has raised fears of fresh political tension and civil unrest in the country.

The PAD's other core leaders claimed yesterday that the attackers could have been state security officials.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday announced he would prolong emergency rule in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces.

Mr Abhisit said that enforcement of the state of emergency decree remained necessary to restore peace and normalcy, although the decree may not remain in place for that much longer.

Mr Sondhi narrowly escaped being assassinated when assailants fired a hail of bullets into his Toyota Alphard as he was being driven to work early yesterday morning.

One of the founders of the PAD, Mr Sondhi underwent a two-hour operation to remove a bullet fragment from his skull at Wajira Hospital.

He was declared safe and in a stable condition after surgery before being moved to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

His driver, Adul Daengpradap, was seriously wounded in the attack and remained in critical condition while his close aide, Wayupak Mangkhalasin, suffered slight injuries.

According to an initial investigation, Mr Sondhi was being driven to work when gunmen in a bronze Toyota Vigo pickup truck opened fire on his car around 5.45am.

The attackers' vehicle accelerated ahead of Mr Sondhi's two-car convoy. The gunmen, armed with war weapons, shot at the tyres, then sprayed the car from the rear to the front with bullets.

The attackers then fled the scene heading for the Bang Lamphu area as Mr Sondhi's security guards fired back.

Police recovered almost 100 spent cartridges from the scene. According to preliminary findings, three war weapons - AK47, HK and M16 assault rifles - were used.

Public bus No 53 was also hit with stray bullets while an M79 grenade was found on a No 30 bus. The grenade did not explode. No one on either of the two buses was injured.

Pol Lt Col Worapong Chiewpreecha, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said a team of investigators would look into the shooting.

Three motives are suspected - political, business and personal.

City police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Suporn Pansua said police were examining surveillance cameras along the route which Mr Sondhi's car travelled.

The ones at Bang Khun Phrom intersection were out of order and did not record the incident.

At the cabinet meeting yesterday, Mr Abhisit criticised the lax security and called for improvements in the wake of this week's civil unrest.

He also warned cabinet members, especially Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, to take extra precautions, said a source.

The PAD said that security was supposed to be extra-tight under the state of emergency, but it clearly was not.

The group suspected the attack on Mr Sondhi was politically motivated rather than stemming from a personal issue, said PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila.

Mr Suriyasai added that the attackers could be state security officials.

Army commander Gen Anupong Paojinda said military checkpoints had been set up at 102 locations in 50 districts around Bangkok, which was still not enough to prevent crimes occurring.

The Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association condemned the gun attack on Mr Sondhi, saying the shooting was an attempt to escalate political violence.