PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers June 20

BANGKOK, June 20 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- Police have set up barricades to prevent the People's Alliance for Democracy laying siege to Government House after 26 days of demonstrations aimed at ousting Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet from office (BANGKOK POST)

- The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs will petition Unesco's World Heritage Committee to postpone the registration of Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site (BANGKOK POST)

- Investors have seen a trillion baht wiped off share value on the stock market over the past three weeks as a result of domestic political tensions and global inflation concerns (BANGKOK POST)

- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday told police to refrain from using force against anti-government protesters, but the number of crowd-control officers will likely be tripled with a view to dispersing the planned rally (THE NATION)

- The Financial Institutions Development Fund (FIDF) insisted its plan to sell a 42 percent stake in BankThai BT.BK remained unchanged (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Thai shares .SETI fell for the third straight day yesterday, dropping 3.04 percent as most Asian markets closed lower following weakness on Wall Street (BANGKOK POST)

- The Finance Ministry will not interfere in the Bank of Thailand's decision to sell off its holding in BankThai, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said yesterday (BANGKOK POST)

- Thai Roong Ruang Group, a sugar miller and exporter, will begin to operate the country's first cellulose-derived ethanol plant in Saraburi next month, according to managing director Ugrit Asadatorn (BANGKOK POST)

- CenCar Co, the operator of Carrefour (CARR.PA) hypermarkets, has expanded its role to become a retail developer, opening its first community mall with a Carrefour premium store as a magnet (BANGKOK POST)

- The Assets Examination Committee has dropped a corruption investigation into Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin over the fire-fighting equipment scandal (THE NATION)

- A group of 61 senators threatened yesterday to seek impeachment proceedings against the government for refusing to explain itself at an upcoming Senate general debate on national problems (THE NATION)

** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and the Nation. (Bangkok Newsroom)