He said his son Chakrit's lawyer had told him his son had not testified at all.

"Just look into his eyes, I know whether he did it or not," Prasart said yesterday, referring to the fact that Chakrit was now facing many counts for allegedly taking part in the assassination plot.

When asked whether his son did it, Prasart suggested that his son could at most have been present at Don Muang military airport - but would not have had anything to do with an attempt on Thaksin's life.

According to police, Chakrit was at the military airport on August 9 and 10 to give signals to other accomplices in the car-bomb plot. After being checked by security team, Chakrit and his accomplices apparently abandoned their plan until August 24.

On that day, Lt Thawatchai Klinchana was arrested in a Daewoo sedan loaded with explosive devices, parked under Bang Phlat intersection bridge not far from the prime minister's residence

Thawatchai did not implicate anyone. Reportedly, he and other suspects - except Chakrit - have now asked to testify in court only.

"I don't think my son went to the Bang Phlat area," Prasart said yesterday.

The 56-year-old father admitted that he was worried for his son and initially contemplated the idea of helping his son run away.

"But when my supervisor said police had summoned my son, I decided to take him to the police," Prasart said, adding that Chakrit had an uncle as his lawyer.

Prasart quoted the lawyer as saying, "He [Chakrit] didn't testify at all". So far, police have said Chakrit implicated many accomplices.

"I don't want to elaborate. But I believe in karma. Everyone will get what he sows," Prasart said.

A barber, who met Chakrit often, said he did not believe that Chakrit would ever dare to assassinate the premier.

"From what I have known, he even avoids confrontation with smaller guys," the barber said, adding how could such a person become an accomplice in a national-level assassination plot.

Meanwhile, police spokesman General Ajiravid Subarnbhesaj yesterday called on the media to avoid causing division between the police and the military, as the ongoing investigation into the alleged car-bomb plot was already threatening to create a rift.

"Our country is in the hands of the media. People have received information from media and thus its role is very important," Ajiravid said.

He urged the media to strictly uphold ethics and publish critical comments in line with the law.

"Please don't throw questions that are threatening to cause division. It's not good for our country," he said.

Also, Ajiravid said the police had denied all information that did not come from the four authorised police officers who were in charge of the investigation.

The authorised police officers are Central Investigation Bureau's commander Pol Lt-General Montri Jamroon, his deputy Pol Maj-General Asawin Kwanmuang, Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Maj-General Jate Mongkonhatthee and Crime Suppression Division chief Police Maj-General Winai Thongsong.

Ajiravid said police have strictly followed laws and regulations in carrying out the investigation. Also, police investigators have co-operated with military agencies for whom the suspects have been working.

"We will also present witnesses and evidence to the military court," Ajiravid said.

When asked whether the whole car-bomb thing was a set-up, the police spokesman said the investigation was being conducted transparently and cautiously.

"The investigation is not going to be influenced by any party. It will go in line with the justice system. We have a duty to find out the truth," Ajiravid said. He also complained that he and the investigators in this case were now under stress and pressure given the criticism from various parties.

Ajiravid said he expected the investigation to be completed by early October. Maj-General Jate added that the investigators would cross-check statements by Chakrit.

In a related development, the PM's close aide Prommin Lertsuridej yesterday said a public survey conducted by the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party found that most people believed the bomb plot was real, which was contrary to a general stance by critics.

Responding to speculation of a possible coup attempt, Prommin said he was concerned that those behind the bomb plot would not stop at that. But he added that, "Nobody will dare do it without support from the public."