Tourists, travellers get Thai curfew waiver

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Foreign tourists and Thai travellers will be allowed to go to Bangkok airports on Wednesday night, getting a waiver from a curfew imposed by the authorities, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said.

Panitan announced on television that the curfew relaxation would be extended to those carrying passports and travel documents.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva imposed a curfew in Bangkok on Wednesday from 8 p.m. (9 a.m. ET) until 6 a.m. on Thursday (7 p.m . ET on Wednesday) The curfew -- details of which were read out on national television -- was ordered to let security authorities perform their duty, Abhisit said in the order.

Government spokesman Panitan later said on TV that the curfew might be imposed in other Thai provinces covered by a state of emergency announced by the authorities if public disorder seen in Bangkok spread to other areas.

He said security officials would help Thais and foreigners who need to go to hospital during the curfew.

State-run Thai Airways International advised its passengers to try to reach airports before the start of the curfew.

"Thai Airways will operate regular scheduled flights and urges passengers traveling tonight and tomorrow morning to arrive at the airport before 8 p.m., and to have all travel documents readily available to present to authorities at the various checkpoints," it said in a statement.

(Reporting by Vithoon Amorn; Editing by Alan Raybould)