Mana Manaso was shot once in the head and twice in the torso in a drive-by shooting, police said. The 47-year-old chief of Asong village was driving his motorbike home in the Raman district when two men on a motorcycle raced up from behind and opened fire at point-blank range, police said. The killers then took his weapon and fled the scene, they said. Investigators said Mana had been attending a meeting of tambon and village headmen but left immediately after receiving a phone call, they said.

In a separate incident in Narathiwat's Rangae district, an elderly rubber tapper and his wife were attacked while riding a motorbike to their plantation. Two gunmen on a motorbike fired three shots at Phut Channukroh, 63, and Juan Channukroh, 62, police said.

Phut fired back with his handgun and shot one of the attackers as the pair fled, police said. After receiving the report, police raided a village and arrested five suspects.

Four men - Sama-ae Palamuming, 30, Amanti Dasae, 23, Baravi Usoh, 23 and Sulgiflee Usoh, 21 - were taken to a police station for questioning, while Bueree Bueraheng, 20, was taken to a local hospital. Police said they found several pieces of camouflage clothing and a gun they suspect had been used in the attack. - The Nation.

Drugs charge: 'My son was forced to confess'

A 58-year-old mother filed a complaint with the Law Society of Thailand yesterday, claiming Bangkok's Taling Chan police beat up her son and forced him to confess to having 40 methamphetamine - or "ya ba" tablets.

Taling Chan Police Inspector, Colonel Thanit Thienpradapchote, however, dismissed the allegation, insisting that Manas Chanthormchai, 32, was nabbed along with 40 ya ba pills from Nonthaburi's railroad area near Wat Sanam Nai, an area notorious for drug dealing.

Food vendor Somneuk Malaidaeng, 58, appealed for justice to the Law Society's representative Thanom Trachuwanich, saying her son and his friend were arrested on Sunday and forced through physical assaults and verbal threats to confess to having ya ba in their possession. "My son sustained injuries to his right cheek and his friend has bruises all over him. They said they were so scared they confessed to the crime, despite the fact that my son had no ya ba on him and just Bt50 in his pocket," Somneuk said after her visit on Monday to the imprisoned Manas.

Somneuk admitted that Manas used to smoked marijuana but said had quit the habit and was now doing construction work and had a wife. "It's impossible he would have that much money to buy 40 ya ba tablets. I feel he didn't do it, but is a victim of injustice," she said, lamenting that she also could not afford Bt70,000 to bail her son out. Thanom accepted her complaint and said he would look into the case. - The Nation.

Poverty eradication: Chavalit confirms resignation

Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday confirmed press reports that he has resigned as head of the government's Poverty Eradication Command Centre.

Chavalit said he considered his work complete, as he had outlined various measures and future processes for his successor.

However, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee told reporters yesterday that Chavalit had "asked for a break from his duties" until a new government is formed, effective from Monday and insisted that Chavalit had not resigned.

The Cabinet yesterday acknowledged Chavalit's request, according to the spokesman.

Chavalit last week criticised Thaksin Shinawatra's government, suggesting that a lack of genuine democracy was the root cause for the ongoing political turmoil. - The Nation.