"Thaksin is not afraid of being seized by the protesters if he is in Government House. Changing of venue of meeting is common," Chidchai said.

However he did not say clearly the reason behind the change.

Thaksin was initially scheduled to chair a meeting of committee that is in charge of preparing exhibition to mark HM's 60th anniversary on the Throne.

The initial schedule saw him heading from a northeastern trip to the Government House where thousands of protesters were camping.

Chidchai claimed that he himself was just informed of the change of venue.

He declined to say whether the change of meeting venue will reflect the country's image as even the prime minister could not enter his own office.

However Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said the government was worried of the security at Government House as there would be many officials attending the meeting.

"There would certainly have inconveniences for the officials who wanted to go in and go out of the Government House due to security scrreening," the spokesman said.

Moreover, traffic is also our concerns because there were the protesters camping outside the Government House, he said.

The Nation