Forensic police inspect a vehicle in Bangkok August 24, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    Thaksin, when responding local media after the incident, would not say whether firing Panlop was related to the "assassination plot", explaining only that the decision had been made "under current national security circumstance". He also said that he could not confirm whether the incident was politically motivated until investigation was completed.

    However, he said he had known about an assassination plot against him for two weeks and also about whom were trying to kill him. Police investigators were quoted by local media as saying that the incident was so sensitive that they could not reveal too many details right now, and that further investigation was needed to conclude whether the car-bomb targeted Thaksin.

    The Thursday incident occurred on the official kick-off day of campaigning for a general election set on October 15 after a prolonged seesaw struggle, which Thaksin is expected to win despite strong protests and criticism displayed by the opposition camps since early this year.

    Thaksin called a snap election and won it this April, which was boycotted by main opposition parties and later annulled by the Constitutional Court, citing that it broke the election law.

    Tension has stepped up in the capital as the new poll day draws closer, with violent clashes between Thaksin's opponents and supporters in his recent public appearances. Thaksin said that the would keep a lower profile to avoid similar clashes.

    Now he had more reason to stay out of limelight. Thaksin said he would make only vital public appearances after the "assassination attempt". "I must assign routine appearances to my deputies. We can't let these people succeed."

    Nearly 200 policemen were posted around Thaksin's home following the car-bomb incident, to create a temporally vehicle-free security zone extending as much as a kilometer from the house.

    But atmosphere remained quite "normal", local media commented. Enditem