AP Supporters of Thailand's embattled government on Saturday warned the country's judiciary and Senate against any attempt to install an unelected prime minister, saying it would be a disaster for the nation that could spark civil war.

afp Thousands of pro-government Red Shirts massed in Thailand's capital Saturday to challenge attempts by opposition protesters to hand power to an unelected regime, warning that the kingdom was lurching towards ''civil war.''

Reuters Supporters of Thailand's beleaguered government gathered on the outskirts of Bangkok saying they were determined to safeguard democracy and avert a coup as anti-government protesters, based at a central park, planned their ''final push.''

bangkokpost.com Suthep hopes to impress the Supreme Court, Senate and Election Commission while the government aims to hold on, but effective immediately, it is the role of the military that is central to the impasse - for better or worse. Suthep gave ''senior figures'' 72 hours to set up a so-called people's government to his liking.


PHUKET: The daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. Beware of inconsistent imitations.



cnn.com Thousands of protesters surrounded Bangkok's Government House seeking the removal of Thailand's embattled caretaker government amid soaring political tensions following the ousting of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

independent.co.uk The authorities in Bangkok pushed back protesters who were trying to force their way into a government compound and demanding the immediate resignation of the new caretaker prime minister. The protesters' leader said he would give the government three days to resign before his supporters forced it out.

bangkokpost.com The Supreme Court president and Senate speaker must set up an interim ''people's government'' within a few days or the PDRC will do it, vows protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban as he begins his latest ''final battle''.

ft.com ''We want to support Mr Suthep to finish his work,'' said Ms Eumporn, who added that she had popped over from lunches at the nearby Holiday Inn many times during the past six months of street protests to give Mr Suthep a total of 200,000 baht. ''We can't live like this for the next generation.''

bangkokpost.com Red-shirt, pro-government demonstrators rallied and burned mock coffins and effigies in several provinces in protest against the Constitutional Court's disqualification of Yingluck Shinawatra.

time.com How an impeachment could be brought against Yingluck in a position she no longer holds remains unclear, although she faces a five-year ban from politics if convicted. Several similar cases are also pending against her.

scmp.com One billion people worldwide still practise ''open defecation'' and they need to be told that this leads to the spread of fatal diseases, UN experts said at the launch of a study on drinking water and sanitation.



In a speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Obama told an audience of journalists from major news organisations: ''I am happy to be here even though I am a little jetlagged from my trip to Malaysia - the lengths we have to go to to get CNN coverage these days.''



dvb.no Burmese and Thai labor officials held a high-level meeting in Bangkok where they agreed to cooperate and provide full labor rights to Burmese migrants, with additional pledges to protect the estimated one to two million Burmese in Thailand from elements such as extortion and employment scams.

mirror.co.uk TV legend Rolf Harris was a Jekyll and Hyde figure who used his popularity to abuse girls as young as seven - one of whom he groomed ''like a pet,'' a court heard.

NNt AOT has stepped up security measures at all of its airports following the recent bombing in Hat Yai District, Songkhla and a quake in Chiang Rai, said the CEO of the state enterprise, Mekin Petplai.

scmp.com Chinese authorities have refused to allow the release there of biblical epic Noah, starring Russell Crowe, which has already been banned in several Muslim countries, a source said.

ap Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi carried out his first four-hour community service stint Friday, observing work on an Alzheimer's ward as part of a tax fraud sentence.

ft.com The many legitimate concerns about cronyism, graft and authoritarianism during the Thaksin era have obscured the structural weaknesses that allowed them to flourish in a nominal constitutional democracy long plagued by coups and corruption.

pattayamail.com The streets and beaches may look empty now that Songkran has ended, but look inside or after dark and Pattaya still is playing host to a good number of tourists.

scmp.com Police in Xinjiang shot dead one man and captured another after they attacked the officers with a knife and explosives.

themalaysianinsider.com Asean must give serious consideration to the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar, especially as Asean heads of state and leaders will gather at Naypyidaw on May 10 and 11 for the 24th Asean Summit.

reuters A surge of tensions in the South China Sea threatens to widen divisions between Southeast Asian nations at an Asean summit this weekend, posing a severe test for host Burma (Myanmar) as the newly democratic country seeks to manage the region's growing alarm over China.

news.com.au Blame Russell Crowe? Noah has sailed past Jacob to become the most popular baby name for boys in 2013, ending Jacob's 14-year run at the top in the US.



news.com.au Masters champion Adam Scott is officially off the market after marrying long-time girlfriend Marie Kojzar.



May 13 Visakha Bucha Day

July 11 Arsanha Bucha Day

August 12 Queen's Birthday

September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

November 6 Loy Kratong

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket

December 5 King's Birthday

December 10 Constitution Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 10th Anniversary, 2004 Tsunami

December 31 New Year's Eve