British tourist injured in Bangkok bomb blast; device explodes outside home of Thai king's chief advisor

Had to go outside Thailand for this report. The papers here have been slow to report any details re: the tourist who was injured.

British tourist injured in Bangkok bomb blast
By Sebastien Berger in Bangkok
(Filed: 10/03/2006)

Thailand's political crisis turned violent yesterday when a bomb exploded in Bangkok, injuring a British tourist.

Jeffrey King, 28, was walking past the home of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, a former prime minister and the closest adviser to Thailand's revered king, when the bomb blew out the windows of a guardhouse.

Mr King, a lawyer, suffered cuts and was admitted to a nearby hospital for overnight observation.

The blast came amid mounting political tension in the Thai capital, where demonstrations are being held almost daily calling for the resignation of the prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, for "abuse of power".

Mr Thaksin, who was re-elected only a year ago, has called a general election to renew his mandate but the main opposition parties are boycotting the poll.