PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - April 8

BANGKOK, April 8 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- The anti-government red-shirt movement will mount the most pressure on Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda during today's rallies (THE NATION)

- The government and its coalition allies are making last-ditch efforts to thwart today's major rally of pro-Thaksin Shinawatra red-shirt demonstrators (BANGKOK POST)

- A tearful Newin Chidchob launched a attack on former boss Thaksin Shinawatra and asked him to put the brakes on the red-shirt movement's activities that may have upset His Majesty the King (THE NATION)

- Police have been ordered to pursue the red-shirt protesters who attacked the motorcade of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in Pattaya (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- How best to co-ordinate fiscal stimulus programmes and set the foundations for sustainable economic growth will be high on the agenda for Asean finance ministers meeting this week in the seaside resort of Pattaya (BANGKOK POST)

- Thai exporters will face tougher times due to fiercer competition and a stronger baht amid the collapse in global demand, according to the World Bank (THE NATION)

- Signs of a turnaround in China's consumption bodes well for Thailand and the other East Asian economies, according to the World Bank (BANGKOK POST)

- PTT PCL PTT.BK has allocated at least 20 percent of its five-year capital expenditure to overseas investments, which it expects to provide 20 percent of its revenue by 2012 (BANGKOK POST)

- The economy could get worse and suffer a contraction of 5 to 6 percent this year if the political chaos continues, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (THE NATION)

- The Cabinet abruptly reshuffled senior Commerce Ministry officials just ahead of the ASEAN+6 summit in Pattaya (THE NATION)

- True Move TRUE.BK targets 15 percent growth in mobile multimedia content revenue this year from 2.68 billion baht last year, despite the slowing economy (THE NATION) ** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and THE NATION.