Emergency panel to take action against ASTV and NBT

As a chairman of the Emergency Committee, Anupong said the two stations' reports have caused the situation to worsen.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej assigned Gen Anupong to chair the panel which was set up after a state of emergency was declared in Bangkok. Fatal clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters near the Government House early Tuesday morning killed a man and dozens were injured in the incident.

ASTV Sattlelite station belongs to the Sondhi Limthongkul, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which led protesters to seize the Government House.

NBT, a former Channel 11,  is seen as being biased against the anti-government protesters.

Anupong said the measures would not be as severe as pulling the plugs of both stations but he did not elaborate. "The committee is considering the appropriate measures to deal with them," he said.

Anupong, the chief enforcer of emergency decree following the state of emergency, said he was advised to control the media but he saw that the situation did not warrant such measure. He said it is clear to him and the committee that many media took sides with either the PAD or the government.