By SUTIN WANNABOVORN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 15 minutes ago

BANGKOK, Thailand - An army general who was fired after an alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was discovered accused the Thai leader Friday of fabricating the scheme.

Gen. Pallop Pinmanee, deputy chief of the Internal Security Operations Command, was dismissed Thursday shortly after powerful explosives were found in a car near Thaksin's residence and an army lieutenant driving the vehicle was arrested. The junior officer had once been Pallop's driver.

Pallop told reporters the explosive device was not wired to go off and he questioned why the driver drove past the house several times instead of triggering the explosive.

Lt. Gen. Jumphon Manmai, chief of the National Intelligence Bureau, has said, however, that the bomb was primed to explode.

Pallop suggested the real reason he was fired is because of his connections to Chamlong Srimuang, a key leader in months of street protests earlier this year against Thaksin.

"I think Thaksin cooked the thing up to damage me," he said.

Speculation mounted over the incident, which Thaksin described as an attempt on his life.

"Bomb plot or stunt?" said a headline in the English-language Bangkok Post.

The newspaper quoted Prasong Soonsiri, a former head of the National Security Council, as saying the alleged plot was an attempt by the embattled government to divert attention from other issues and could lead to Thaksin declaring a state of emergency.

Thaksin has been under attack from Bangkok's middle class, academics, some military officers and other sectors for alleged abuses of power and corruption, but has refused to step down and insists he will be the front-runner in his Thai Rak Thai party's bid to win October elections.

Thaksin said the attempt on his life was genuine and claimed that four senior military officers — some on active duty and others retired — were the masterminds. He said he would not reveal their names.

"Why do I have to make up the story? If it's cooked up, how can police arrest the suspect? The truth will be revealed when more collaborators are arrested," Thaksin told reporters. "More suspects will be arrested soon."

The suspect in the alleged assassination attempt, Lt. Thawatchai Klinchana, is an officer with the Internal Security Operations Command. He was charged with illegal possession of an explosive device, and police said more charges would be brought as the investigation continued.

Col. Kosol Ngampramuan, chief of the police bomb squad, said Thawatchai had driven his car back and forth near Thaksin's home until a security guard notified police. Thawatchai was arrested after trying to flee, he said.

Kosol said the bomb in the car was capable of causing damage within more than a half-mile radius and would have destroyed everything within 164 to 328 feet.

Thaksin said he would limit outdoor activities for security reasons and would be unable to help candidates campaign for the upcoming election.

"I have to work in a safe place. I cannot travel outside because it will make it more difficult to provide protection," Thaksin told members of his party.

Thai Rak Thai spokesman Pimuk Simaroj said Thaksin would campaign through radio and television.

Thaksin canceled a trip this week to visit flooded areas in northern Thailand and a Sept. 3 meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, on the Thai-Cambodia border, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said.

this guy's "pulling a Peisistratus" (wiki him).

if it is true though (which it probably isn't) im not so keen on the military pulling any stunts.

ร.ท.ธวัธชัย กลิ่นชะนะ ได้ยอมจำนนต่อหลักฐานและเปลี่ยนคำให้การ ว่า “ได้รับคำสั่งจากเจ้านาย.. Happy Birthday Ai Mong. Hope you get many d!cks

Oh . .Please !!! ... someone just put a bullet in his head !!!! .. for the sake off all Thais !!!

I rilly sick of This squar dude ,wish what happen to John F Kennedy happen on him. . Jst used very skillfulทหารพราน sniper Squarhead from 2 KM far ,then it done.

This just show that the smart one who work with Thaksin already leave him ,that is why the plot is so crab

The last time an asian politician pulled a stunt like that near election time, President Chen Shui Bian of Taiwan actually staged it so he really got shot. That took place in 20 Mar 2004 just 11 hours before election closed. In 1985, his wife was paralysed from waist down after a truck ran over her in what many believe was an assassination attempt on Mr Chen himself..

Methinks Messrs Thaksin are too much of a chicken for pain....

u dont know $hit dont talk $hit lah

you must know $hit that's why you talk $hit! lah


555

^ 555555.....

la!

If I am the one who plan it ,I will just wait till he go to those reral Esarn province to promote him selve. Cuz he will easy to secure him selve in Bangkok ,his men are around every corner. Then lets some guys who is not in army or not know me well hire some Khmae or Vietnam ex soldier to sniper him. Then lets the guy cross the border to escape. Clean right?

Exactly.

Yikes! Wouldn't that cause a war between Thailand and Vietnam/Cambodia? Is that what Thaksin needs now as a diversionary tactic?

Cause a commotion and start a regional WAR?

^
I just joking baby ,at least this idea is better than car bomb

Or this one would be better?

**Tomorrow news**
the cybork assassin from the future has been arrest after he try to kill Thaksin.The data in his microship explain that he send by Thai goverment in the future to stop the threat of the nation ,b4 Thaksin mess up d kingdom more .




It not funny but the รากหญ้า Thai rural will believe this is true

555

Here we go Yow Yow!!!! One of the key man whose been arrest. He admitted that if the carbomb fail he have back up plan on using the RPG to short straight to Thaksin. ANd If d PM still arrive hedont mind to used d same size nuke that American used for bombed Japan http://www.manager.co.th/Pjkkuan/ViewNews....D=9490000114636

This hiphop assassin look abit like Siri

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