PM Abhisit vows to be 'Prime Minister for everybody'

After being sworn-in as Thailand's 27th prime minister at a televised ceremony at the Democrat Party's headquarters, Abhisit said he would defend the monarchy as an institution of reverence.

He went on to emphasise national reconciliation as the main thrust of his speech, promising to serve as leader of all Thais, no matter whether they like him or not.

He reached out to the people in the North, in the South and in the Northeast with a reconciliatory tone, promising to bring an end to the politics of division. The rural/urban divide has become politicised in recent years with the Democrats seen as serving Bangkok's elite and the South, while the defunct People Power Party represented the interests of the rural poor in the North and Northeast.

"I would like to correct the failed political system by relying on justice and the rule of law," Abhisit said. "Now our country needs unity."

He showed a ring given by Nian, an elderly Isaan woman from Ubon Ratchathani, who gave it to him during a trip to the Northeast and told him she entrusted it to him as a gift from Isaan people.

Abhisit, the 44-year-old leader of the Democrat Party, won parliamentary support to become prime minister on Monday after key factions of the defunct People Power Party and minor coalition parties switched sides to vote for him. His rise to power amid protests and political crisis represents the end of an era - almost eight years under ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Abhisit pledged to tackle economic problems urgently and to follow up popular projects started by previous administrations such as cheap medical care and village funds. His government would try to create jobs for the urban poor, invest in infrastructure and prop up farm prices hit hard by the economic downturn.

He will seek to lay down the foundation of Thailand's future growth through improvements in education.

He also spoke in English to reach out to international |correspondents, investors and tourists.

"I know that for the past two to three years the pictures and the images that you've seen of Thailand have not been positive, but I also know that there are people all over the world who know Thailand better, as friends, as partners, as visitors.

"I am sure they recall Thailand as a land of smiles, land of opportunities, and land of the free.

"I know that many of you are still concerned about the events in the past particularly the closure of the airports. I would like to tell you that the Thai people regret that those incidents had to happen and we will make sure that those are things of the past. They will never happen again.

"In assuming the role of prime minister of Thailand, I also assume the role of chairman of Asean. Let me reassure you that we plan to have Thailand ready to host the Asean summit from late January onwards, so that we can all be confident that Asean can really move forward after the new Asean charter has come into force," Abhisit said at the ceremony.