Thai PM rules out coup ahead of mass anti-gov't rally

Thai government will do everything it can to prevent chaos during a mass rally and will definitely not let a coup happen, Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday.

The premier's declaration was made in replying to a fresh inquiry from a member of parliament in the House of Representatives concerning impacts of the mass rally and measures to prevent chaos, Channel 9 Television reported.

"We will do everything to prevent the situation from escalating, " Channel 9 Television quoted the Thai premier as replying.

Abhisit said if a House dissolution or his resignation could help the country to move forward, "I will have no problem with doing these."

But, "we would definitely not allow a coup to take place," the prime minister said.

Thailand's weekly cabinet meeting Tuesday decided to impose the Internal Security Act (ISA) in and around capital Bangkok on March 11-23 to ensure law and order in the mass anti-government rally by the red-shirted supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

A total of 50,000 security men have been put on alert ahead of the mass rally slated for the weekend.

Source: Xinhua