Police managed to arrest Suwat the following day who implicated Arthit and Sombat as accomplices. Arthit then was arrested. Sombat is still at large.

Central Investigation Department's Deputy Commander Assawin Kwanmuang said during the interrogation, both Arthit and Suwat reportedly confessed that they had already killed 17 anti-Laos government rebels.

"They claimed that of the 17, they murdered three Ubon Ratchathani, six in Nongkhai, one each in Udon Thani and Loei," Assawin said.

The two suspects were called, "Assassins of Mekong," he said.

The general quoted both suspects as claiming that they were hired by a "neighbouring country" to commit the murders and was paid Bt100,000 for each assassination.

Arthit admitted to involvement in the January 18 fatal shooting of Anouwong and Oulayvanh Sethathirath - known at home in Fairview, North Carolina, as Phillip and Ashley McRowan. The couple, who called themselves prince and princess, said they were descendants of a former king of Laos, although there is no evidence to back their claim.

The suspect, however, said it was his fugitive accomplice, Sombat, who fired the shots that killed the couple, Assawin said.

They had been visiting a Buddhist shrine in Nong Khai province when they were gunned down in broad daylight by two men wearing coats and black sunglass¬es, according to witnesses.

The Nation