Thai PM to attend UN General Assembly in New York

BANGKOK, Sept 7 (TNA) -- Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej said Sunday he will attend the United Nations General Assembly later this month and will take the opportunity to explain to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and heads of state that his government is "still able to control the situation".

In his weekly TV and radio address, Mr. Samak said he will address the UN
General Assembly on September 25, the same day that the Appeals Court here
would pass its ruling on a libel case against him.

Mr. Samak said he has written to the court saying that he cannot attend
the hearing because he must attend the world body's meeting. His letter
will be submitted to the court on Monday.

The outspoken prime minister said he is not concerned that the military
might seize power during his upcoming absence from the country.

Thailand's military staged a bloodless coup against Mr. Samak's
predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept 19, 2006, while the then prime
minister was in New York about to address the UN General Assembly.

Ex-premier Thaksin and his wife missed mandatory court appearances in
Bangkok and are now in Britain, where they have applied for political
asylum.

Mr. Samak said he must attend the General Assembly to inform the world
that the political turmoil in Thailand now lies within Government House.

Anti-government protesters (the People's Alliance for Democracy) seized
Government House on August 26 and are demanding that Mr. Samak and his
entire cabinet resign unconditionally.

"The world is watching (Thailand)," said Mr. Samak, adding that he and the
army chief had already told foreign envoys and military attaches posted to
Bangkok that there will be no more coup d'etats.

The diplomats have said that coups without reason are totally
unacceptable, he added.