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Thai king calls for peace after political turmoil

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-22 23:10

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's revered monarch called on the new government to make peace a priority Monday, ending his long silence on months of political unrest that culminated in a siege of Bangkok's airports and battered the nation's economy.

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej has sworn in the cabinet of Abhisit Vejjajiva, urging ministers to bring "peace and order" after months of protests that helped to bring down the last government. [Agencies]

The ailing 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej spoke slowly and with a hoarse voice as he presided over a swearing-in ceremony for the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"I hope you will be able to carry out your tasks efficiently and make the country run smoothly," Bhumibol said in a short televised speech from the ceremony at Chitralada Palace, the king's Bangkok residence.

"I want to see peace in the country," the king told the ministers, all dressed in white ceremonial uniforms.

The comments were Bhumibol's first to address the unrest unleashed by a monthslong protest campaign aimed at purging the government of allies of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

When Abhisit was selected by Parliament last month, he became Thailand's third leader in four months, and the first opponent of Thaksin to lead a civilian government in seven years. His Cabinet was unveiled Saturday.

His selection raised hopes that he would stop the revolving door of prime ministers, most of whom were removed from office amid demonstrations that saw the prime ministers office compound and the capital's airports overrun. The airport weeklong occupation stranded 350,000 travelers and cost the vital tourism industry millions of dollars.

Bhumibol, who has occupied the throne for six decades, has historically been the country's sole unifying figure in times of crisis. He wields significant moral authority and Thais have long looked to him to guide the country, even though he is a constitutional monarch with few real powers.

Bhumibol canceled his annual birthday address earlier this month because he was suffering from an inflamed throat, the crown princess said at the time.