A failed bomb attempt in Bangkok over the weekend will not delay the Supreme Court's verdict on ousted premier Thaksin

Shinawatra's 2 billion dollars in frozen family assets, judicial

authorities said Monday.

On Sunday, a 1.3-kilogram bomb packed in a fruit juice container

was discovered and successfully defused near the Supreme Court.

The court is scheduled to decide February 26 whether the state can seize 2 billion dollars of cash in frozen bank accounts of the Shinawatra family.

Experts said the explosive could have killed people within a 5-metre radius.

Virat Chinvinijkul, secretary-general of the Office of the Judiciary, told reporters that the incident would not cause a delay of the verdict.

Bangkok police expect eight more bomb attacks to be carried out in the capital this week, The Nation news website reported.

The Thai government has placed 5,000 joint soldiers and police on standby in Bangkok, in anticipation of heightened political tension and possible violence in the lead-up to the verdict.

Thaksin's followers, called the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship but better known as the "red shirts" have vowed to rally 1 million people to protest the pending court decision, which is expected to go against the populist politician who was prime minister druing 2001-2006 before being ousted by a coup.

The government fears an escalation of violence before February 26, believing that Thaksin's followers will attempt to create political chaos in an effort to postpone or cancel the court's ruling.

The Supreme Court panel on Political Office Holders will rule on whether Thaksin deliberately concealed his holdings in his billion-dollar family business empire while he was prime minister,

and used his power to benefit it.

Thaksin still has a huge following among Thailand's rural and urban poor, who benefited most from his populist policies, but also enjoys support from other segments of Thai society including factions within the military and police.

"There are hard core Reds who are experienced in using violence as a means to achieving a political end," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, acting government spokesman. "These people have past experience in security operations, or have served with security agencies before."

The government plans to enforce the Internal Security Act, under which it can prohibit demonstrations in sensitive areas.

If there is a threat of violence, the prime minister could declare emergency law, which gives authorities immunity in cracking down on protestors. - dpa