ID :
144517
Sat, 10/02/2010 - 13:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/144517
The shortlink copeid
PM meeting police chief after explosion at Pratunam bank
BANGKOK, Oct 2 -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled to meet urgently with national police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree later Saturday following a bomb explosion at a commercial bank in the Pratunam area of Bangkok.
Mr Abhisit is expected to ask Gen Wichean to beef up security measures and for the police to set up more checkpoints in the capital after an unidentified bomber threw two Russian-made hand grenades at a Krung Thai Bank branch near Pratunam intersection.
The incident occurred at about 1am Saturday morning when two grenades fell on the verandah of the bank building. One exploded while the other was a dud.
No casualties were reported as police initially believed the incident stemmed from a personal conflict as the area is frequently used by teenagers as a meeting place.
Police said they plan to invite witnesses for questioning which could lead to an arrest of the bomber, while they also plan to examine surveillance cameras installed in the area which might give them some clues.
Mr Abhisit said during the weekly Cabinet meeting next Tuesday it was expected the emergency decree now enforced in Bangkok and three neighbouring provinces would be extended.
The premier on Friday lifted the state of emergency in three more northeastern provinces -- Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima.
The Cabinet on Tuesday is expected to approve the appointment of Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan to succeed Deputy Prime Minsiter Suthep Thaugsuban as director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) as Mr Suthep plans to resign his post by Friday to run in the Surat Thani Constituency 1 by-election.
The by-election will be held on October 30 to choose a replacement for former Democrat MP Chumphon Kanchana who faced a five-year ban from politics for submitting a false assets statement.
Mr Abhisit is scheduled to leave Sunday for Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Belgium. Mr Suthep has been assigned to chair the Cabinet meeting and to act on behalf of the prime minister. (MCOT online news)
Mr Abhisit is expected to ask Gen Wichean to beef up security measures and for the police to set up more checkpoints in the capital after an unidentified bomber threw two Russian-made hand grenades at a Krung Thai Bank branch near Pratunam intersection.
The incident occurred at about 1am Saturday morning when two grenades fell on the verandah of the bank building. One exploded while the other was a dud.
No casualties were reported as police initially believed the incident stemmed from a personal conflict as the area is frequently used by teenagers as a meeting place.
Police said they plan to invite witnesses for questioning which could lead to an arrest of the bomber, while they also plan to examine surveillance cameras installed in the area which might give them some clues.
Mr Abhisit said during the weekly Cabinet meeting next Tuesday it was expected the emergency decree now enforced in Bangkok and three neighbouring provinces would be extended.
The premier on Friday lifted the state of emergency in three more northeastern provinces -- Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima.
The Cabinet on Tuesday is expected to approve the appointment of Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan to succeed Deputy Prime Minsiter Suthep Thaugsuban as director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) as Mr Suthep plans to resign his post by Friday to run in the Surat Thani Constituency 1 by-election.
The by-election will be held on October 30 to choose a replacement for former Democrat MP Chumphon Kanchana who faced a five-year ban from politics for submitting a false assets statement.
Mr Abhisit is scheduled to leave Sunday for Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Belgium. Mr Suthep has been assigned to chair the Cabinet meeting and to act on behalf of the prime minister. (MCOT online news)
