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Published on December 29, 2007

Thailand condemned all forms of terrorism and extremist acts and called on all parties to act with restraint and to work together for the stability of Pakistan.

"Thailand was deeply shocked and saddened by the deplorable act which led to the deaths of Mrs Benazir Bhutto and several other innocent bystanders," the ministry said in a statement.

Prime Minister Surayud Chualanont and Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram will write separate letters of condolence to their counterparts.

More than 260 Thais in Pakistan, mostly students, are safe in so far as none of them were in or around the bloody incident, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat.

There are only eight Thai students in Rawalpindi, where Bhutto was killed, and none of them was near the bombing, he said.

The Thai missions in the country have already contacted all Thai students via their networks and urged them to stay away from the conflict and wait for further notice from the embassy and consulate, he added.

The Thai missions registered 263 Thai students in Pakistan, 150 of them in Karachi, 80 in Lahore, 25 in Islamabad and eight in Rawalpindi, he said.

Large crowds rioted across Pakistan after the assassination on Thursday.

The situation is still tense, and many places such as Karachi have been placed under restrictions, he said.

"We do have an evacuation plan ready to be activated whenever the Thai Embassy in Islamabad and Consulate in Karachi deem it necessary to do so," Tharit said.

Supalak G Khundee

 The Nation