, Government Spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp said Surayud will make a one-day trip to Laos on Saturday and to Cambodia on Sunday. Laos became the first country the prime minister visited since his appointment early this month.

Surayud is scheduled to depart for Vientiane at about 8.30am. He will take opportunity to meet with his Laotian counterpart, Bouasone Bouphavanh and Laos' President Choummaly Sayasone.

He will return to Bangkok at about 5pm.

Surayud and his entourage will leave for Phnom Penh where he would meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Apart from boosting the bilateral ties, the main emphasis of the upcoming visits will focus on the policy of the interim government, which is expected to remain in power for the next twelve months or so, the spokesman said.

by Piyanart Srivalo