PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - April 1

BANGKOK, April 1 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- The Assets Examination Committee unanimously ruled to indict ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on corruption allegations involving a 4 billion baht soft loan to Burma (THE NATION)

- The prime ministers of China, Thailand and Laos officially opened the Route 3 Highway in Laos, the last remaining section of a highway network that runs from Singapore to Beijing (BANGKOK POST)

- The government has sent the wrong signal to the local rice market by speculating that prices will soon top $1,000 (31,500 baht) a tonne, up from last December's $650, according to industry sources (THE NATION)

- The government whips' panel reviewing the constitution has resolved to amend five articles, including the controversial Article 309 which legitimates all actions under the interim 2006 charter and all related acts, including the 2006 coup (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- Seeing upside potential in Chinese and Indian bourses and other undervalued stock markets, local investors may want to punt abroad for better returns (THE NATION)

- The Finance Ministry will request 4 billion baht in funding from the Cabinet to help cover the costs of a two-year farm debt suspension programme (BANGKOK POST)

- The Monetary Policy Committee will meet on April 9 to decide whether to cut interest rates (THE NATION)

- Listed developer Prinsiri PRIN.BK admitted it started construction on The Pulse Phahon Yothin 37 condominium illegally as it did not have the proper construction permits (BANGKOK POST)

- Anyone planning to buy a resale home should wait for a tax waiver expected to come into effect soon (THE NATION) ** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and The Nation.