Thailand prepared to evacuate nationals in Myanmar if necessary

Bangkok, Sep 25 (UNI) The Thai military is closely watching the Buddhist religious clergy-led mass protests in Myanmar and is prepared to evacuate all Thai nationals in that country if needed, the country's top defence official said today.

Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces Gen Boonsang Niempradit said that while he did not expect the situation in Myanmar to get out of hand, the Thai foreign ministry and diplomats in Myanmar have been asked to be ready for emergency evacuation of Thai citizens working there.

According to Thai border trade officials, the street protests in Myanmar that reportedly brought out 100,000 people on the streets of Yangon yesterday, had not affected the border trade between the two countries.

Reports from Yangon this evening said that a large number of monks in Yangon had heeded the warning issued yesterday by the Myanmarese military regime to the monks to stay away from the protests.

UNI