Thaksin to call early Thai election

BANGKOK, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, facing a mounting campaign to force him to quit, said today he would call an early general election, three years before it was due.

''I dissolve Parliament,'' he told reporters after an audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej. ''No reshuffle,'' he added after a senior official had said a cabinet change was ''very likely''.

''I will explain on television tonight,'' Thaksin added of an address his cabinet secretary said would take place at 1860 Ist Hrs.

REUTERS CH PM1703