Thai anti-government protesters postpone rally

Supporters of exiled former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Wednesday they had postponed indefinitely an anti-government rally due to start this weekend, which had worried investors in financial markets.

The red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) had planned to hold the rally from November 28 to December 2 in the historic heart of Bangkok, with marches on key roads in the capital, to press its demand for fresh elections.

"We want to show responsibility for the country and show our loyalty to the king. So, the red shirts have decided to postpone the protest indefinitely," a UDD leader, Veera Musikapong, told reporters.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 81, has been in hospital since September 19. The country holds big celebrations at the start of December to mark his birthday on December 5.

Some analysts had said any chaos or violence ahead of the royal celebrations might have backfired against Thaksin, especially among his more moderate supporters.

Veera said the UDD leadership would meet again in mid-December to decide what its next move would be.