Thai PM hails drug war success

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has said a controversial war against drugs would continue, despite its claimed success.

Mr Thaksin told a rally in Bangkok that thousands of "bad people" had been arrested during the 10-month campaign.

He brushed off criticism from human rights groups that have accused police of murdering hundreds of suspected dealers.

Police have blamed most of the deaths on inter-gang violence.

Police say they have arrested about 90,000 people on drugs-related charges since the campaign started in February and have seized more than 40 million methamphetamine pills and assets worth 1.8bn baht ($45m) from suspected dealers.

"Some of the bad guys have died, and some of them are serving prison terms. I am ready to confront them in every way," Mr Thaksin said at a ceremony on Wednesday.

According to official statements, 2,245 drugs suspects were killed between 1 February and 30 April alone.