BANGKOK, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Thai Police explosive experts defused a bomb hidden in a car near the residence of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and detained a suspect Thursday, police said.

    "The bomb experts have defused the bomb and the car is being towed to a safe place for further checking," the police was quoted by local media as saying.

    Police detained an army officer of the Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC), identified as Lt. Thawatchai Klinchana, driver of the car whose bore fake license. He was taken to the police Crime Suppression Division for interrogation, the media said.

    After the interrogation, police charged Thawatchai Klinchana of having explosives in possession without permission but he denied the charge, it added.

    Two sticks of dynamite, each weighing 0.45 kilograms, and some fertilizer were discovered inside the vehicle, according to the media.

    Pol. Maj. Gen. Aswin Khwanmuang, deputy chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, said that the bomb was found in the car belonging to Thawatchai.

    ITV reported that the vehicle was driven back and forth near Thaksin's residence and a security guard of the prime minister urged police to chase and stop it.

    Soon after the arrest, Gen. Pallop Pinmanee, ISOC's Deputy Director was informed of immediate dismissal by Thaksin, the local media reported. Enditem