Thai PM vows to handle anti-govn't rally peacefully

BANGKOK, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government will not blockade the planned anti-government mass rally next weekend, but will handle the crowd in a peaceful manner, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) will start from Friday mobilizing its red-shirted supporters from the countryside to Bangkok. And, on the morning of March 14, the UDD protesters will stage a major rally at Bangkok's Sanam Luang square, demanding Abhisit to dissolve the parliament to pave way for a new general election.

Speaking in a weekly TV program, Abhisit urged the protesters to hold their planned mass rally peacefully, saying that the security units would be deployed to handle the rally in order not to affect people's lives and traffic flow in the capital.

He said that he will discuss with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Governor and District Directors over measures to cope with the demonstration.

The government has warned the public not to join the demonstration and has sought cooperation from all parties to jointly protest against those groups who aimed to incite violence and turmoil, the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) quoted Abhisit as saying.

Regarding whether to implement a special law to control the situation, the prime minister said that it will be known by Monday, and if the law has to be applied, he will cancel his trip to Australia next week.

In a related development, the government security monitoring panel, chaired by Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister for security affairs, is scheduled to meet again on Monday to evaluate the situation and review the preparations of security units, the NNT said.