Gunmen's attack on protest leader adds to tensions in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand - Political temperatures that had started to cool after several days of rioting by opposing forces reheated yesterday after a brazen attack by gunmen wounded the protest leader who helped topple Thailand's government in 2006.

Bangkok remained under a state of emergency and security was tightened around Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who said the shooting should not be used as an excuse for more political conflict.

"We are concerned by the shooting obviously," he said. "We've got to restore order."

But the attack was a new strain in long-standing tensions between backers of Abhisit's government and supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup three years ago and whose allies were removed from power by the courts last fall.

Sondhi Limthongkul, an outspoken media tycoon and founder of the People's Alliance for Democracy, was ambushed early yesterday on his way to work. At least two men in a pickup truck opened fire on his car with M-16 and AK-47 assault rifles, police said.

Bullets shattered the windshield and the rear window. Sondhi's driver was seriously wounded and an aide also was hurt, police said. No arrests have been made.

Sondhi, whose "yellow shirt" alliance helped install the current government, was in stable condition after surgery removed "small pieces of bullet" from his skull, a Vajira Hospital spokesman said.

The publisher used his media empire and influence to organize and lead protests before Thaksin's ouster in 2006 and then again last year to drive the former prime minister's allies from power.

Sondhi's supporters come mainly from the middle class and educated elite of Thai society. Thaksin's backers are mainly from the rural poor who liked his social-welfare programs.

Abhisit said the cabinet decided not to lift emergency rule that was imposed Sunday because of the rioting. He said the decision was made after "looking at the overall picture" and was not a direct response to the attack on Sondhi.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said Abhisit's security would be increased and "we may not be able to disclose his plans and schedule as usual."

Vehicles carrying Abhisit were assaulted twice by red-shirt protesters before and during this week's riots. The prime minister returned to his offices Thursday for the first time in three weeks.