The government and the Office of His Majesty's Privy Council yesterday strongly denied that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would no longer be in charge of organising the Kingdom's commemoration of the beloved monarch's 60th year on the throne.

The Nation yesterday reported that an unpublicised decision had been made on March 8 by the 19-member Privy Council that its president, General Prem Tinsulanonda, would replace Thaksin as the organising committee's chairman because of the current political uncertainties.

Inchan Buraphan, secretary-general of the Office of His Majesty's Privy Council, said

the report was "absolutely not true". He also expressed concern that such a report could be misinterpreted as evidence of a political conflict. "We all are working for His Majesty, and it has been clear from the beginning that, for this very important national event, that the government would act as host while General Prem would serve as top adviser," Inchan told The Nation.

Prime Minister Thaksin also insisted he remains in charge and lambasted the "fabricated" report as being damaging to the national image.

"I signed all the invitation letters to foreign monarchs and the replies have all been directed to me as host. This report is very damaging," he said.

Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee vowed

to lodge a complaint with the

Press Council of Thailand against The Nation and demanded the paper issue a public apology.

"The government denies the report and is asking The Nation to show responsibility for publishing the false report that referred to an anonymous source without verification with the related agency," he said. "The Office of the Government Spokesman will send a letter to the editor to take responsibility.

And we will send a letter to

the Press Council of Thailand to examine the newspaper's ethical standard as the publicised information could have an impact on the event in June. It will also hurt the country as the news was published in one of only two English-language newspapers in Thailand with news that foreign media can redistribute."

Touching on the issue again later in the day, Surapong threatened to sue The Nation unless it revealed who the source for the story was.

Nation editor Tulsathit Taptim, reacting to the government's charges, said the editorial department cross-checked the information with several sources before publishing the report. He said the paper was ready to defend its decision to publish.

The Nation's sources said that with Prem in charge it could be expected that whatever political circumstances prevailed there would be a respectable leader to represent Thailand and His Majesty. The national celebration, to be joined by foreign monarchs, begins in June and will be in full swing by the end of that month.

Political uncertainties have raised questions about the national preparations for the event. But Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam last night insisted during an interview with the host of a news talk programme on Channel 11 that it was the "government's duty" to organise national celebrations for His Majesty. And as head of the government, Thaksin remains fully in charge of the all-important event, he said.

"The line is clear as to who is responsible for what regarding the grand commemoration," said Wissanu.