Thailand detains 18 soldiers over bombings

Bangkok, Jan 22: Eighteen soldiers and civilians have beendetained for questioning over possible involvement in bombings on NewYear's Eve which killed three people in Bangkok, a Thai army generalsaid today.

The men, taken from locations in Bangkok and army units in nearbyprovinces over the weekend, are in police or military custody,Lieutenant-General Prayudh Janocha told a Bangkok radio station.

''They have been invited to provide information because the policeinvestigation has learned that they might have known something aboutthe bombs,'' said Prayudh, commander of the Thai army's central region.

More people would be questioned, Prayudh said without giving further details.

The 18 were detained under martial law rules which demand they be charged within a week or freed, he said.

Immediately after the bombings the military-appointed governmentsaid politicians who had lost power were suspected of being behind thebombs.

Most Thais interpreted the claims as implicating Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted as prime minister by the military on September 19.

Thaksin, a former senior policemen turned telecommunicationstycoon who had allies in both the army and police, has denied anyconnection to the bombs.

Prayudh confirmed Thai newspapers reports that some of the detained soldiers were from the Special Forces.

Police have not yet officially released the names of the detainedmen, but Sonthi said yesterday people from ''four colours,'' referringto the army, navy, air force and police, were involved in the bombs.

Reuters>