Thai "yellow-shirt" leader's life out of danger following assasination attempt

Bangkok, Apr. 17 (ANI): Thailand's media mogul and founder of the People's Alliance for Democracy Sondhi Limthongkul has been declared safe after doctors successfully removed bullet shrapnel from his head.

Limthongkul survived an attempt on his life on Friday when gunmen attacked his car with automatic rifle fire."The operation is completed. It took about two hours and Sondhi is now safe, in a good condition and able to talk," Vajira Hospital Director Chaiwan Charoenchoketavee said.Sondhi would have to remain in the hospital's intensive care unit for about a week while he recovers, the Bangkok Post reports."The bullet shrapnel penetrated the outer skull and caused the broken skull to crush the outer membrane of the brain, but it did not penetrate into the brain itself. The wound was more serious because of his age," Charoenchoketavee said."The gunmen, riding in a pickup, fired about 100 rounds from assault rifles through the windows of Sondhi's car as he was on the way to moderate his regular program at the studios of the satellite TV station, ASTV, about 5am on Friday," Police Colonel King Kwaengwisatchaicharn said."At least two attackers followed Sondhi's car, overtook it and sprayed it with about 100 rounds of gunfire from AK-47 and M-16s,'' he added.The motive for the attack is still under investigation.'

According to the PAD, attack on Limthongkul's life was politically motivated.

"We do not know who is responsible but we do know the attack was politically motivated," PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan said.

Sondhi founded what became the PAD in late 2005 when he arranged a number of anti-Thaksin protest meetings. (ANI)