Yellow-clad Thais cheer king's birthday

BANGKOK, Dec 6 (Reuters) Hundreds of thousands of yellow-clad Thais gathered near Bangkok's Grand Palace to celebrate the 79th birthday of King Bhumibol Aduljadej, the world's longest reigning monarch.

Waving national and yellow flags, tens of thousands of well-wishers lined yesterday the way from the king's residence to the Grand Palace to welcome their beloved monarch.

On his way to the palace for a religious ceremony, the king waved to people wearing yellow shirts, who shouted ''Long Live the King''. Yellow is the colour of Monday, the day King Bhumibol was born, and thus is the royal colour in Thailand.

People lit candles as a sign of their love and loyalty to the king.

In other parts of Bangkok and the provinces, Thais also gathered for candle-lighting ceremonies to honour the king, who represents their hopes, aspirations and national unity.

''I'm here to show my love and respect to the king,'' said 45-year-old office worker, Pajjapat Iampradit. ''I'm proud to be Thai and to have the king as head of state. I wish him good health and long life.'' The king's principle of a self-sufficient economy has been adopted by the post-coup government under appointed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who replaced the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra.

King Bhumibol backed the government during his birthday speech on Monday, saying the country would be run effectively by Surayud who has promised to step aside after elections late next year.

The king, who celebrated his 60th anniversary on the throne in June 2006, also gave his support to Surayud's cabinet which included former senior civil servants and military generals as well as business executives.

Thailand's constitutional monarchy has few formal powers, but the reverence with which the royal family is held means that its rare comments on politics are highly influential.

King Bhumibol was born on Deccember 5, 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has three daughters, a son and three grandchildren.

REUTERS SP BST0906