Police chief asks for 30 days' leave amid rumours of his removal

However, Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday denied Patcharawat was about to be sacked, saying he himself had no authority to remove anyone.

He said his only involvement in the matter was forwarding four reports about the investigation into the assassination attempt on media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The reports were prepared separately by Patcharawat, Pol General Thanee Somboonsap, Pol Lt-General Assawin Kwanmuang and Pol Lt-General Worapong Chiewpreecha.

Suthep declined to reveal the content of the reports, saying he must follow proper procedures and regulation.

"The prime minister is the one with the authority to make all of the decisions," he added.

Rumours swirled all day yesterday that Patcharawat would be shuffled to an inactive post in the PM's Office and Thanee named acting police chief.

Thanee is in charge of the Sondhi assassination case. That investigation is reportedly facing obstacles, apparently because many big names in police, military and political circles can be linked to the case.

Thanee himself has been reporting progress in the investigation directly to the prime minister.

Abhisit has also tasked Suthep with helping determine exactly what obstacles if any the police are facing in their investigation.

At Government House, Abhisit would only admit Suthep's office had sent him full reports on the case. Asked if he was going to sack Patcharawat, the prime minister said: "I will not answer that question."

In April, Sondhi was the target of an assassination bid seemingly aimed at igniting further political turbulence in the capital. Shortly before the audacious shooting, Abhisit himself was almost killed by an angry mob of red shirts when he was trapped inside the Interior Ministry following his declaration of a state of emergency for Bangkok.

Thanee's investigative team has already sought arrest warrants for two individuals - a military officer and a police officer - alleged to have been involved in the assassination attempt.

Abhisit said he would like the investigation to proceed without further delay, because he has promised to back Thanee.

With Thanee's investigation making significant progress, the masterminds of the assassination may find they must defend themselves by playing on political undercurrents. If Abhisit fails to act decisively now, he could even be the next target of |an attack, because his political enemies would like to see him out of office.

On Sunday, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to phone his red-shirt supporters in Thailand from Dubai. Political observers believe the phone-in will serve as an overture to further political turbulence.