By NNN-TNA
Bangkok : Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Friday condemned the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, branding the act as deplorable, while expressing confidence that such violence is unlikely to happen in Thailand.
The prime minister told journalists that the Thai government will send condolences to the Pakistan government over the slaying of Pakistan’s former prime minister.
“I regret that such an extreme violent incident occurred in Pakistan. However, I hope such an incident is unlikely to happen in Thailand,” said the kingdom’s Army-installed prime minister.
Ms. Bhutto was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday when a gunman shot her in the neck and set off a bomb. At least 20 other people were killed by the blast.
The killing was condemned worldwide, with the UN Security Council describing it as a reprehensible act of terrorism.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s national police chief Pol.Gen. Sereepisuth Temeeyaves made assurances that the police would provide maximum security for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra when he returns to Thailand.
“Mr. Thaksin’s safety will be assured. The Thai police won’t allow such a violent incident as what happened in Pakistan to happen here,” said the national police chief.
The former prime minister, who has been mainly living in London in self-exile since being toppled by the military in last year’s September 19 coup, said Tuesday in Hong Kong that he is exploring options to come back to Thailand between mid-February and April. He vowed to stay out of politics but said he was prepared to serve as advisor to the People Power Party.
The party won the greatest number of seats in last Sunday’s general elections and is now attempting to form a coalition government.