Around the World: Thailand

King calls for unity

Revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej has called for unity in deeply divided Thailand to stop it from falling into ruin, in a rare foray into the country's four-year political crisis.

"I am quite worried our country is going into ruin because people have done things their own way," King Bhumibol told an audience of civil servants late on Friday in a speech aired on national television at the weekend.

"But if people are working together ... the country will prosper," said King Bhumibol, who is the world's longest-reigning monarch.

(China Daily 08/24/2009 page7)