Govenors instructed to monitor suspicious movement

"Peaceful protests are allowed but organisers must strictly abide by the law," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said in a teleconference in his concurrent capacity as Interior minister.

Surayud said provincial governors should remain vigilant to ensure calm and reason with people opposed to the cancellation of balloting results due to electoral fraud.

He urged authorities to assist the Election Commission in organising the poll rerun.

Following the teleconference, he said his instruction was intended as a precaution as there was no reports of new protests other than those that happened in Buri Ram four or five days ago.

Interior permanent secretary Pongpayom Wasaput said provincial and local officials were under strict orders to remain politically neutral for the vote rerun as well as the senatorial poll scheduled for March 2.

"Authorities are obliged to do their job and not neglect their duties during the transition period to an elected government," he said.

Commenting on the demon¬stration in Buri Ram, he said about 20,000 protesters dis¬persed peacefully after they lodged their petition opposing the three red cards, he said.

Security has been beefed up to protect provincial electoral committee chairman Kasem Watthanatham whose report led to the red cards, he said.