"Officers" involved in New Year Eve bombs-Thai PM

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (Reuters) Thai police are searching for more than 10 people, including some ''officers'', suspected of involvement in the New Year Eve bombs that killed three people in Bangkok, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont today said.

Surayud's remarks came as Thai media reported that police had raided 18 places in Bangkok and nearby provinces to look for evidence in suspects' homes.

''Some of the suspects have already been questioned by the police,'' Surayud told reporters, citing information he said he had been given by national police chief Kowit Wattana.

Surayud declined to say if some of the suspects were police or soldiers. ''They are officers, but I don't want to be specific because they are only suspects and I don't want to make any comment that will damage their units,'' he said.

Immediately after the bombs, the army-appointed government said politicians who had lost power were suspected of being behind the bombs.

Most Thais interpreted the claims as implicating exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a September 19 coup, and his allies.

Thaksin, a former senior policemen turned telecommunications tycoon who had allies in both the army and police, has denied any connection to the bombs, which also wounded 38 people.

There has been no claim of responsibility.

REUTERS SY BD1319