Clash of ministers fizzles out

Agriculture Minister Somsak Prissanananthakul had criticised former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over his idea of inviting some of his Saudi Arabian business friends to invest in rice farming in Thailand. Somsak reacted angrily, saying the idea was tantamount to selling the country out to foreigners.

Thaksin's lieutenant Teerachai Saenkaew, the Deputy Agriculture Minister, immediately countered Somsak.

"The person who said that has no brain," Teerachai said angrily.  

The media were curious as to whether there would be more angry words between the two ministers from the same ministry. Before the meeting Teerachai told Government House reporters he would ask Somsak about the criticism in the meeting.

"In the past we talked via the media. Today, I will ask him directly so that this clash will end soon," Teerachai said.

However, there were no reports of Somsak explaining anything in the meeting room about his comments. He was spotted getting into his car and leaving Government House in a hurry.

Teerachai told reporters after the meeting that he had affirmed the Cabinet would never sell the country out to foreigners because it was prohibited by law, adding he now had no hard feelings against Somsak.

It was PM Samak Sundaravej who came to rescue.

"The PM asked me to forgive Somsak. It's okay with me. We are MPs and come from the same place. We can continue to work together," he said.