Panarat Thepgumpanat

Police initially suspected the attacks were linked to the insurgency in the south.

Military to keep right to detain people for seven days as long as it is in the name of national security.

The race is again expected to pit Thaksin’s 'red shirt' followers against the military and royalist establishment.

A tax on plastic bags has also been mooted.

The Thai military has repeatedly delayed general elections despite promising to restore democratic rule by 2016.