ANXIETY about the weekend PAD concert on Phuket intensified today with the shooting this morning of yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul, who was due to play a key role.

The shooting of the man who helped organise the Bangkok airport blockades also may lift the struggle for political supremacy in Thailand to a new and potentially far more serious level.

About 5am this morning, as Khun Sondhi made his way to his newspaper and television office in Bangkok, two armed men in the back of a pickup opened fire, spraying the vehicle.

Despite the hail of bullets, Khun Sondhi escaped alive with a wound to the head. Doctors were operating to remove a bullet this morning. His driver was in a more serious condition.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva held a scheduled meeting with his Cabinet this morning and opted not to lift the state of emergency for Bangkok and five neighboring provinces, imposed during the red shirt rebellion, because of today's shooting.

The PM provided Khun Sondhi with extra security in hospital this morning.

On Phuket, the island's newly arrived Phuket Police Chief, Police Major Pikad Tantipong, told Phuketwan today that security at the weekend concert was now a top priority.

He said police would be on duty in the vicinity of the concert to make sure people were safe and secure.

Organisers of Saturday's concert in Phuket City said security would be dramatically increased.

The PAD concert and rally on Phuket is going ahead on Saturday despite reservations that it may appear to be a yellow-shirt celebration at the downfall of the so-called ''red revolution.''

Sales for the event have boomed since troops in Bangkok quelled strife on the streets of the capital. Phuket has seen few all-ticket events on this scale.

Only 500 of an original 10,000 tickets remain to be sold at 200 baht each for April 18 from 5pm to midnight. The event will be covered live on ASTV, Khun Sondhi's channel.

Through an accident of timing, the long-planned event comes just days after the rout of the red shirts in Bangkok.

There is now serious concern, following this morning's shooting, of a backlash. The number of PAD security guards at the concert is to be increased from 200 to 500, Phuketwan was told today.

The shooting of Khun Sondhi also raises concern about the direction the entire standoff between the red shirts and the government might take.

While there has been violence, injuries and deaths, leaders of red shirt and yellow shirt protesters and the the government have not been subjected to attacks of this kind until today.

The Phuket concert will put PAD leaders on stage in an open arena for the first time since the red shirts were cleared from Bangkok's streets.

Thailand's south is a stronghold for the Democrat Party and the yellow shirts, with their occupation of Phuket airport over three days last August a preview of blockades at Bangkok's major airports in November.

That led to the ascention of the democrats to power, and put the red shirts on the streets of the capital and in Pattaya last week.

Huge interest has been experienced in Saturday night's concert from Phuket, Krabi, Chumporn and Songkla, with many more people also coming from central and northern provinces by bus.

While most of the interest comes from Peoples' Alliance for Democracy members, it will not strictly speaking be a yellow shirt rally.

Local PAD leader Aparat Chartchutikumjorn said: ''This is a good chance for people who disagree with the 'red revolution' to have a say.

''We invite everyone to join in. This is not a political event, no wire-pullers, not a time for fear.

''Phuket is a peaceful place and a good place to hold the concert. If we had organised the concert in Bangkok, it would have been dangerous.''

A PAD supporter, who gave her name only as Suvimol, said she agreed that the concert was ideal in Phuket because it was a safe place where violence was unlikely.

She believed there were informers in the government who told red shirts where and when they could find the Prime Minister's car and how to break into the Pattaya resort.

Jinnipada, the assistant manager of a charter flight tour company, said the event would provide information to the PAD and to the public who came along.

Risks were minimal on Phuket, she said. The public in Thailand's south were mostly Democrat supporters, she said.

Swedes and other expats understood the situation in Thailand and would keep coming to Phuket because there were no problems here, she added.

Bangkok and Pattaya protesters appeared to have inside help, she said.

''The red shirts don't understand reality,'' she said. ''Business people sought political advantage under the Thaksin administration.''

Fifty percent of Saturday evening's proceedings will be entertainment, with three local dancing groups and singers set to perform.

The rest will be a political event, with the PAD's prime movers sheduled to be there. Among the leaders coming are Anchalee Paireerak, Saranyu Wongkrajang and Major General Jamlong Srimuang.

It is expected that Khun Sondhi, who would have been a major drawcard, will not now attend.

Cars and motorcycles will be parked some distance from the stage and people will be able to catch four seung taews to the seating.

The stage is going up today and the perimeter of the venue is being pegged out at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City, near the Chinese temple.

The PAD were the team players and the government was now the coach, she said. But if there were problems with the coach, the players would take action, she said.

People who want tickets should try the ASTV office on Ong Sim Phai Road, Nimit Village. For details: 076 233229 or 081 6930382.

A second concert and rally is planned for Rayong on April 25.

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