Bangkok, July 13:

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said today that there have been intelligence reports of a plot to assassinate him, but he downplayed the threat as “nothing to worry about.” Thaksin, who has been at the centre of a months-long political crisis, said the head of the National Intelligence Agency had shown him a copy of the report about the plot.

“There is nothing to worry about,” he said when asked by journalists to confirm reports of an assassination plot. “We just increased security measures.” Thaksin normally has 12 bodyguards, but the National Security Centre recently provided him 30 more security agents, an army general who works closely with the NSC told AP yesterday.

Thaksin also hired an additional 10 guards to protect his family, the army general said.

Reporters, who previously had unfettered access to the premier as he entered and left buildings, are no longer allowed to get close to him.

Thaksin’s political troubles started with massive street demonstrations earlier this year.

Anger against Thaksin was inflamed by a cryptic remark he made earlier this month that many have interpreted as criticism of the king or his top adviser. Thaksin charged that a “charismatic person” had wielded “extraconstitutional force” to interfere in politics. He didn’t name the person, but his words were widely seen as aimed at Thailand’s revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej or his senior adviser, former Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda.