PM ADMITS DRUGS WAR 'MISTAKES'

Rights groups have condemned the crackdown

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has admitted that police might have
made some "mistakes" in waging a bloody month-long war on drugs which has
left more than 1,100 people dead.

Mr Thaksin said "bad officers" might have been involved in some of the
killings and vowed to investigate complaints of police misconduct.

Bu the death toll would not dissuade his government from continuing the
crackdown, he said in his weekly radio address.

The operation, which began on 1 February, has been criticised by human
rights groups, who claim there has been a high incidence of extra-judicial
killings.

Mr Thaksin said the campaign, which is targeting the country's booming
methamphetamine trade, would carry on beyond the initial three-month plan.

Thaksin resolute

The prime minister said it was inevitable mistakes would be made in such a
major offensive and conceded that some of the deaths may have been the work
of rogue officers.

But, he said, most of those who have died were killed by members of their
own gangs seeking to eliminate informants.

He said the country owed it to the next generation to wipe out the drugs
trade.

"We are now at war on drugs which have already destroyed a million of our
people.

"Don't be moved by the high death figures, we must be adamant and finish
this war," he said.

Investigations

Mr Thaksin said about 700 government employees were believed to be involved
in the drug trade and would be investigated.

On Friday, the prime minister appointed two committees to investigate
whether police have acted "illegally" and to ensure protection for suspects
who have turned themselves in.

"No-one is above the rule of law," he said.

Mr Thaksin said police had killed 28 people in "self-defence", while four
police officers had been killed since the start of the campaign.

He said up to 27,000 alleged drug dealers have been arrested and about 5
million methamphetamine pills seized.

Thailand is the world's largest consumer of methamphetamines - a powerful
stimulant also known as speed or uppers.

About 5% of the population regularly abuse the drug, according to the
International Narcotics Control Board.