Surayud said he made the decision after discussing Kowit's performances with Council for National Security (CNS) chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

Speaking later in an interview, Sonthi said the government, the CNS, and "every member of the public" had "shared the same view over the issue". He did not elaborate.

Sonthi said the decision to dismiss Kowit had not affected his personal relationship with the police general, adding: "There is nothing wrong between us. We still talk."

Both men were classmates at the Armed Forces Academies Prepara-tory School.

He said Kowit's dismissal should not affect cross-service relations between the men in green and khaki, saying: "It won't. He [Kowit] understands the reason. The national interest is above everything else."

Sonthi said Kowit, now holding an inactive post at the PM's Office Ministry, would still assist the CNS, but no specific job description has been officially assigned to him.

A commissioned police officer yesterday shaved his head and dressed in black in protest against Kowit's dismissal as well as reportedly over the CNS' role in police affairs.

The unidentified officer works within the Royal Thai Police (RTP) compound and it is not immediately known whether his act was supported by fellow officers, or whether he faced any disciplinary action.

Acting national police chief Seripisut Temiyavej yesterday met Surayud and reportedly vowed to successfully investigate the nine bomb attacks on New Year's Eve along with calming down violence in the South and tackling other crimes.

He also promised Surayud to order an imminent large-scale reshuffle of police officers.

Seripisut said he would today be briefed over the bomb attacks by all investigators looking into the entire probe and will report the most updated information to both Surayud and Sonthi.

He will also thank Sonthi personally for keeping him at the Royal Thai Police after the coup on September 19 last year - despite Kowit's recommendation to move him out of the force.

Seripisut, who still holds the "acting national police chief" title until an official PM's Office order recognising his permanent post is issued, said he was not holding a personal grudge against Kowit, but said he would withdraw three criminal lawsuits against the former police chief only if Kowit resigned from the police.

However, Seripisut had the personal elevator, reserved for the national police chief at the RTP headquarters, blocked for his own use, prompting Kowit to use communal elevators.

Kowit has not moved out of his office at the RTP and Seripisut still uses his own office a few doors away from Kowit's.

Kowit turned down all requests for interviews and stayed in his room all day, but said while leaving the office: "I have no responsibilities here any longer. I will do any jobs to be later assigned to me and will not comment on this dismissal anymore."

Full Interview with Pol Gen Seripisut in Siam This Morning