Soldiers try to curb a street protest by Muslim women on Phetchakasem highway in Yala yesterday. The protesters began blocking the road after a man and a woman were summoned for questioning. The crowd dispersed when it was confirmed that the couple were n

Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas distanced himself from his claim last week that Muslim militants from the deep South could launch attacks in Bangkok, saying the threat of further attacks came from "a man who is in exile" - a blunt pointer to deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Speaking to reporters before the weekly Cabinet meeting, Boonrawd said he wanted to "clarify" that the threat to the capital was not linked to the South but to a "man who is in exile and capable of causing trouble in the country".

He said the culprit was pulling strings from abroad and looking to create more disturbances and possible violent clashes through the mobilisation of people and mass demonstrations.

Boonrawd's statement was the strongest suggestion yet linking Thaksin to the New Year's Eve bombs in Bangkok that killed three and injured nearly 40.

Thaksin has denied the bombs were the work of his supporters.

Boonrawd also said tensions would intensify during March and April with the possibility of political moves and disturbances by various groups.

"If we cannot control the situation, the movement could escalate into violence,'' the minister said.

In spite of Boonrawd's dismissal of the link between the insurgency in the South and the bomb attacks in Bangkok, anxiety within the government's security and intelligence community continued to simmer as Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont questioned their efforts.

One source said Surayud singled out the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) over a recent session in Parliament when its chief, General Vaipot Srinuan, questioned the work of security officials.

While Vaipot may have raised the issue in his capacity as a member of the National Legislative Assembly, Surayud used yesterday's Cabinet session to remind the NIA, and others, of their failure to prevent major attacks, such as the New Year's Eve blasts and the spate of bombs in the deep south on February 18 - despite having prior knowledge of possible attacks.

While policy planners debate the source of threats, officials on the ground are taking extra precautions to monitor the movement of people between the deep South and Bangkok.

Pol Colonel Angkoon Klaiklueng said the Highway Police had stepped up reinforcements along certain routes out of the Malay-speaking region to the upper part of southern Thailand.

However, concerns about more violence within the restive region have yet to subside. Thanongsak Phongpasert, director for the State Railway of Thailand, said special attention would be put on the 23 stations between Hat Yai and Sungai Kolok given the history of insurgent attacks at these stops.