Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said on Tuesday he had invited diplomats for a briefing at the Ministry on the situation in Thailand, including the April 2 election and government megaprojects.

He said several companies had notified him that the current deadline for firms to submit proposals in regard to the megaprojects - April 28 - was too soon, so the government had extended it by a month.

Kantathi insisted foreign com¬panies were still interested in investing in Thailand despite an ongoing political instability, but said they needed the government to clarify some information, which he planned to do on Wednesday's briefing.

The foreign minister said the international community saw the upcoming election as a sign of democracy in Thailand, and that Thai people had the right to express their views.

They were also keeping a close eye on the ongoing protests, which have been peaceful, and hoped that Thailand would continue to prosper economically, Kantathi said.

While the anti-Thaksin rallies might cause some worries among foreign investors and the interna¬tional community in a short term, it would not affect Thailand's image in the long run, he said.

The Nation