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Sondhi, a core leader of People's Alliance for Democracy,  held his first press conference after sustaining injuries from the May 17 gun attack.

"The attempt on my life is meant to send out the signal to mass movement leaders, regardless of red shirts or yellow shirts, to disband," Sondhi said.

He said he suspected the gun attack was also designed to threaten Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"If I was killed, then this means Abhisit can also be the next target. In this country men with guns can do anything without thinking how Thailand will survive," he said.

He said he was picked as the assassination target for two reasons - one is to intimidate the media because of his dual role as a media professional and another is to undermine the mass movement because he is the PAD leader.

Based on his eyewitness account of the gun attack, he said gunmen were welltrained soldiers.

He said he clearly saw the gunmen spraying bullets from assualt rifles like M16 and AK47 from the distance of 20 meters.

The gunmen sat on the pickup truck to open fire like in the military training, he said. About four trucks were involved in the gun attack and about 10 men were in the operation.

It is a suspicious coincidence that all five security cameras were out of order at the time of the gun attack, he said.

"I suspect a powerful figure might be involved as accomplice," he said, arguing that it was unlikely to have the attack happened during the state of emergency if there was no green light from a higher echelon.

He said certain rogue soldiers carried out the attack which he did not believe was condoned by the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

He said he noted that none of the top military leaders showed any concern or sympathy for his plight.

He pointed out that rogue soldiers did not just attempt on his life but also involved in the number of grenade attacks at Don Mueang Airport, Constitution Court and Government House during the street protests by the yellow shirts.

In regard to speculation on the mastermind, he said he did not suspect Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Army chief General Anupong Paochinda and philanthropist Thanphuying Viriya Chavakul.

He then made sarcastic remarks on Viriya. He said he was glad Viriya had denied any involvement in the gun attack although she might have to struggle with her conscience when she was on her death bed if she lied.

He vowed to continue leading the PADled mass movement after his recuperation in the United States. He said he was under the doctor's order to rest.

He also said he expected police to announce the arrest of gunmen within this month.