PM accuses opponents of using devious tactics

"I believe regardless of what I do, a group of certain individuals will always remain dissatisfied," he said.

Taking a swipe at the red shirts, Abhisit said he found it ironic that his opponents claimed to be democracy advocates but relied on undermocratic means, such as disruptive attempts to block Buri Ram constituents from meeting him.

He said wryly that his opponents seemed insecure because they may have feared losing their support base if villagers got in touch with him and learned what the government was doing for them.

Abhisit vowed to carry on his inspection trip nationwide, including the strongholds of his opponents in the North and the Northeast.

He said his visit to Buri Ram was a success and that he was pleased there were no clashes between rival camps as previously feared.

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said the government had positive feedback from Abhisit's Buri Ram trip.

"Buri Ram residents turned out in full force to welcome the prime minister," he said, arguing that the trip managed to boost confidence since Abhisit had a chance to directly talk to the people and raise awareness of the government's achievements.

The premier's next inspection trip would be to Ubon Ratchathani on July 23, he said. There would then be a two-week rest period before he visited the two northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Lumphun next month, he added.

Democrat MP Sathit Pitudecha said his main coalition party fully supported Abhisit on his inspection trips.

"If possible, the prime minister should visit at least two destinations upcountry every month," he said.

The inspection trip would enable the government to gain first-hand knowledge about people's grievances, he added.

Coalition whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiart said the premier's trip was designed to monitor the implementation of policies and not be a campaign trail.

He said he saw no justification for the red shirts trying to disrupt such trips when they were about administering the country.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Abhisit had the audacity to claim his trip was successful when he had to wear a bullet-proof vest and mobilise a security force of almost 5,000 to keep peace.

"The trip, in fact, added to the list of government failures over the past six months," he added.

He said the large presence of security forces managed to suppress local residents from expressing their true feelings.

If the prime minister wants to learn the actual situation, he should not deploy such a large security force, he said.