New Thai drugs war

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, undaunted by an avalanche of criticism after more than 2500 people were killed in his first war on drugs in 2003, launched a third one yesterday, vowing to wipe out the trade in the three-month campaign.

The 10-month war on drug in 2003, which Thai and foreign sources say involved police assassinating suspects, was voted the most successful policy of Thaksin's first term and helped him win another landslide victory in February.

Thaksin launched the second war last October.