The source, who requested anonymity, denied any significance in Prem casting his ballot in advance voting in Bangkok on Saturday.

Supporters of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra saw Prem's vote as a sign of support. But the source said Prem was registered as a resident of Songkhla and it was inconvenient for him to undertake the long journey to vote there. - The Nation.

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ANTI-THAKSIN RALLY: Protester 'damaged car'

A woman yesterday filed a complaint against the anti-Thaksin campaign, claiming that a protester damaged her car during the rally at The Emporium shopping mall on Sukhumvit road last Sunday.

Captain Teerayuth Serinonthchai from Thong Lor police station said Chatsuda Sapwatananukul, 52, of Nonthaburi, saw a man wearing a yellow headband scrape her car with his flagpole as she sat in it. He said, however, she did not get out of her car as she was scared he might hurt her, so she drove to a police station. - The Nation

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DENTAL COMPENSATION: Mother willing to negotiate

The mother of a boy who became physically and mentally disabled as a result of a brutal dental procedure, and who was recently awarded more than Bt4 million by a Nonthaburi court, yesterday agreed to begin talks with the Public Health Ministry.

Mother Tiwakarn Onyai said she was willing to negotiate with the minister, after Deputy Public Health Minister Anutin Charnveerakul visited her son at Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Centre.

Last week, the mother lambasted the ministry for planning to appeal against the court order that it pay her six-year-old son, Chanayuth, Bt3.4 million and her Bt1.07 million.

Anutin said yesterday the appeal was a customary and necessary step, and the ministry had no intention of not paying Tiwakarn and her son.

The appellate process will allow the Appeals Court to help mediate the case and negotiation can begin, he said.  - The Nation.