Vientiane - The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel warning for Thailand, especially to Bangkok where a mass protest was underway this weekend, media reports said Monday.
The ministry warned the general public, officials, business people and students to avoid travelling to Thailand while the Internal Security Act is still in force, the Vientiane Times reported.
The Thai government has placed Bangkok and parts of the capital's seven surrounding provinces under the security act from March 11-23 in anticipation of possible violence from protests.
An estimated 100,000 protestors gathered in the capital this weekend in an effort to force the government of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resigns and call for new elections.
About 30 countries have issued travel warnings to their citizens to avoid Thailand, especially Bangkok, if possible this month.
The Lao Foreign Minisrty also warned its citizens working in Bangkok not to go to the areas where the protests are taking place.
There are an estimated 120,000 Lao nationals working as labourers in Thailand, which boasts a much bigger more successful economy than its communist neighbour but a less stable political system.
Laos has been under singe-party communist rule since December, 1975. Protests and other signs of political unrest are unheard of in the land-locked country of about 6 million people.
