Spate of New Year bombings signals widening political woes

Different theories offered as police deny southern Muslim insurgents responsible

Last September residents in Bangkok cheered the bloodless military coup that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and ended several months of political gridlock. The coup leaders promised to restore stability and order, and heal Thailand's deep political divisions.

But Sunday's string of co-ordinated bombings in the Thai capital, and the fear of further attacks in the days ahead, signal that Thailand's political struggle may be far from over, and could be escalating.

As security forces tried to uncover the hand behind the New Year's eve attacks, which killed three people and injured more than 30, different theories were emerging of the likely perpetrators.

No group has claimed responsibility for planting the bombs, and police have yet to make any confirmed arrests.

Police and political leaders quickly played down the idea that Muslim separatists from Thailand's conflict-ridden south had extended their campaign to Bangkok. As early as Sunday evening, the night of the attacks, national police chief, Lieutenant-General Ajirawit Suphanaphesat, said that he did not believe there was a link to the southern insurgents, who are blamed for daily bombings, shootings and other acts of intimidation in the three southernmost provinces.

Some analysts agree, citing the scope of the attacks and the improvised bombs. 'The insurgents clearly have the technical capacities, but you have to wonder do they have the infrastructure in Bangkok to do eight bombs,' said Zachary Abuza, an expert on militant Islam in Southeast Asia.