Caretaker PM Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at Government House for a weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday. Security has been boosted for the embattled leader.

Security surrounding caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been heightened to an unprecedented level even as doubts continue over whether there is, or was, a real threat to his life.

The number of personnel protecting Thaksin has been increased and measures to ensure his safety have been boosted in the wake of last Thursday's alleged assassination plot.

On Sunday, during his golf game with fellow Cabinet members, police were sent to guard an entrance to the exclusive Chon Buri golf course because the hole where Thaksin was playing was located near the gate - a possibly risky spot.

The prime minister's unofficial schedule - including his golfing destinations - is now under wraps.

Reporters attempting to follow Thaksin from his home on Sunday were lured away by police decoys.

They eventually tracked him down to the fashionable "members only" Amata Spring Country Club golf course at Chon Buri, where he was playing with Cabinet colleagues.

Yesterday, sections of roads leading to Don Muang airport were closed to make way for the prime minister's motorcade. Thaksin was to fly to Ubon Ratchathani to attend the funeral of an Army colonel killed in a violent attack in the deep South.

Earlier, at the headquarters of the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party, where Thaksin was attending a weekly meeting, vehicles entering the compound were searched, causing congestion on the street outside.

On Monday, media representatives covering Thaksin's visit to the Education Ministry were not allowed near him unless they could produce media credentials.

In addition, police barred vehicles from parking around the ministry compound during the visit.

Since the alleged assassination plot was "uncovered", there has been a heavy police presence - both uniformed and plain-clothed - in and around Thaksin's home in Charan Sanitwong Soi 69, near the Bang Phlat intersection where the alleged car bomb was intercepted.

No parking is allowed on the small road outside Thaksin's residence. Police record the registration numbers of all vehicles passing by.

At Government House, parking has been prohibited near the building housing the prime minister's office. A shortcut passing behind the building is off limits to visitors and officials with no business there.

The number of police guards has been increased. Many are armed with M-16 assault rifles.

However, questions persist as to whether the alleged plot on the prime minister's life was real, despite a "confession" by Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, that he drove the bomb-laden car that was intercepted by police near Thaksin's home last Thursday, and had also driven the same vehicle earlier this month.

In a video recording shown by police at Monday's press conference, the suspect said he was remorseful about what he did.

The Democrat Party yesterday expressed suspicion at the way the police were dealing with the case and the rationale behind their showing of the video recording.

Deputy party spokesman Sathit Pitutecha said it appeared police were trying hard to convince the public that there had been an attempt on Thaksin's life.

Law Society of Thailand president Dej-udom Krairiksh said the displaying of the videotaped confession was a police attempt to boost the credibility of the assassination theory.

Political Desk

The Nation