The raids in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Pathom, and Suphan Buri took place at about 6 am.

The sources said the detained persons included Lt Col Suchart Khadsungnone, an officer of the Special Warfare Command from Lop Buri and Pipop Juengluang-on, 50, the organiser of a van passenger service in Bang Bon district as well as Col Surapol Supradit.

The sources said Surapol was suspected of being the one who assembled the bombs used in launching eight attacks in Bangkok on New Year' Eve.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Saturday that he was still awaiting reports from police over the Bangkok bomb attacks.

He said he heard that police took some 10 suspects for questioning, and most of them were officials.

Police invoked the martial law, which empowered authorities to detain suspects without placing charges against them for seven days.

The suspects were taken to the Crime Suppression Division for questioning.

CSD-beat reporters witnessed the questioning and noticed that interrogators demanded the suspects to provide their alibi when a car bomb plot against former Thaksin Shinawatra was foiled late last year.

The detained military officers were also asked whether they had undergone bomb-assembling training or special warfare training.

Police also seized bank accounts and mobile phones of the suspects for checking.

The Nation