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The move followed the brutal murder of a Bangkok taxi driver earlier this month by a high school student who claimed he had copied a scene from the Grand Theft Auto game.

Somsak said the ministry must be more proactive in its approach to solving the violent-game issue. He has assigned Culture Ministry permanent secretary Veera Rojanapojanarat to invite related agencies, academics and family networks to a meeting this morning.

"Within 3-6 months, we must reduce the sale of violent computer games by 70 per cent and then get rid of them completely from Thai society," he said, adding that officials must begin monitoring game shops more strictly.

The head of Family Network for Media Watch, Anya-orn Panicheungrat and 20 members submitted a letter to the new Culture Minister yesterday afternoon to call for solutions to the impact of violent games on Thai society.

Firstly, they want the Office of the National Culture Commission to show responsibility for issuing permission for the sale of Grand Theft Auto to both victims' families.

Secondly, they wanted the computer games to be rated according user age by a committee comprising government, private, public sectors and experts. Thirdly, they wanted promotion for creative and constructive use of technology among youths. Fourthly, they wanted the authority to issue regulations to ensure ensure safe and constructive game shops and Internet cafes within 3 months.

Education Ministry Spokesman Wattana Sengpairoh urged the Interior Ministry to allow only youngsters aged over 7 to play computer games and the game shops opening hours to be from 4pm to 6pm during weekdays.

Game shops should be prohibited from being located within a 500-metre radius from schools or community centres.

In related news, police revealed that the 14-year-old boy who died from Cardiovascular failure on July 17 in a game shop in Bangkok's Hua Mark district was identified as Supachai Matleung. His elder brother Jamnian, told police that Supachai went missing from their home in Yasothon and no one heard from him until Jamnian saw a news report and recognised his brother's clothes.