Security beefed up for Thai PM after series of threats

BANGKOK, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Security has been beefed up for Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva after two bomb incidents within two days, Thai media reported Monday.

Abhisit changed his official vehicle from a Mercedes Benz to a new bullet-proof Land Rover, the Nation online said.

Meanwhile, Anupong Paochinda, Thailand's Army Chief said Monday that the Army is ready to provide bodyguards for Abhisit when it gets request.

Anupong made the remarks when asked to comment on the incidents that prime minister's motorcade was interrupted twice early this month.

On Feb. 6, two cars tried to interrupt Abhisit's motorcade in two separate incidents. At about 1 p.m., two men in a white Honda tried to cut into the motorcade traveling on an expressway near the Government House.

Police managed to stop the car without anyone hurt. Four hours later, a taxi tried to cut into the motorcade. Security guards forced the taxi to slow down.

As Thailand's Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions is going to deliver a verdict on Feb. 26 regarding whether to seize deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 76.6 billion baht (2.3 billion U.S. dollars) in frozen assets, more chaos has since been reported.

On Feb. 1, bags filled with excrement and fermented fish were thrown into Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's residence in central Bangkok around noon and then security has been beefed up.

On Feb. 13, an unidentified gunmen fired an M-79 grenade at a state university, some 50 meters from the Government House in Bangkok around 11 p.m., leaving four parked cars, a building and a pavilion damaged, but no one got injured.

A day later, a C-4 bomb was found in the Supreme Court compound and was demolished by police bomb squad. It is reported that the bomb was powerful enough to destroy the whole building.