PM warns of 'decisive actions' against riot

He said in a national address that the government would "take decisive actions" in case of riot or fighting.

"If the protest affects the political system and the country's revered institutions, this government will not tolerate it and will take decisive actions allowed by law," he said.

Abhisit was referring to a massive rally by the anti-government red-shirt protesters in Bangkok on Wednesday.

Ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra over the past week addressed the red shirts gathering outside Government House. He heavily criticised certain privy councillors, particularly Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, and accused them of political interference and masterminding the 2006 coup.

Thaksin said there could be a "revolution by the people" while other leaders of the protest warned of the possibility of a civil war.

Abhisit on Monday night assured the public of the authorities' "100 per cent" readiness in dealing with the rally scheduled for tomorrow. He also called on the public to help in the efforts to get past the ongoing political crisis.

He said that if the country could weather the crisis, it would emerge stronger politically and economically.

The prime minister's 15-minute address was broadcast on the state-run NBT after the 8 pm news programme.

Abhisit also said there was no need now for the government to declare a state of emergency to deal with the situation. He said that was to prevent possible criticism that the administration craved for special power.

He said the government would do its best in preventing violence and keeping law and order during the protest.

Abhisit yesterday called a meeting of security agencies in preparation for a massive rally by the red shirts tomorrow.

He still expressed confidence the authorities could control the situation, adding his government would not declare a state of emergency in dealing with the protesters.

The meeting, at the Defence Ministry, lasted about two and a half hours. In addition to the prime minister, other participants included Deputy Premier in charge of security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, police commanders and chiefs of the armed forces.

Abhisit said the security agencies insisted they were prepared to cope with the protest and keeping the situation under control.

 Earlier yesterday at the headquarters of his Democrat Party, Abhisit said protecting the monarchy was a priority of his government.

"A government that is unable to protect the country's main institution will not survive and would not deserve to stay on," he said, adding that the administration would perform its tasks carefully and to the best of its abil

 ity.

Deputy Premier Suthep said yesterday he believed the majority of Thai people remained sincerely loyal to the monarchy and would not tolerate any insult to the revered institution.

"I believe that when the majority of the country makes it clear what it wants, people [numbering] just a few tens of thousands will fade away," he said.

Meanwhile, Nattawut Saikua, a leader of the red shirts, yesterday disputed a remark by Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda that the red shirts' attack on privy councillors was aimed at weakening the monarchy. He said the red shirts were loyal to the monarchy.

In a related development, Metropolitan Police spokesman Maj-General Suporn Phansua yesterday said the police were well prepared for the red shirts' rally tomorrow. He said however that the crowd-control units would only use shields and not water-jetting fire-engine vehicles against the protesters.

He said that more than 2,000 police officers would be stationed near Prem's Sisao Thewet residence , where the red-shirt protesters threatened to demonstrate.