Top cop begins mission in the south

Gen Patcharawat was assigned by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to work in the southern border provinces until August 18. The government has appointed Pol Gen Wichien Potposri to be acting police chief during his trip.

The police chief said before leaving Bangkok that he has been assigned to work in the South to speed up the investigation in the Narathiwat mosque shooting case.

He would also evaluate the security operations imposed Asean's Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phuket last month.

Patcharawat is assigned to the south mission reportedly to pave ways for the investigation into the attempted killing of anti-Thaksin core leader Sondhi Limthongkul.