PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers June 24

BANGKOK, June 24 (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

- Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva called on all members of parliament who are Thai to vote against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama for abusing their constitutional powers involving the Preah Vihear Temple (THE NATION)

- Cambodia closed the Preah Vihear ruins on Monday amid worries Thai protests over Phnom Penh's plan to propose the ancient temple for World Heritage listing will spill across the border (BANGKOK POST)

- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej told his colleagues in the ruling People Power Party that he would not resign or dissolve the House of Representatives (THE NATION)

- Senators attacked Prime Minister Samak over a lack of leadership, failure to tackle economic problems and accused him of working under Thaksin Shinawatra's influence (BANGKOK POST)

- The Thailand Development Research Institute has given the Samak Sundaravej government only five points out of 10, highlighting a lack of cooperation between ministers that could further bring down the performance rating (THE NATION)

- Members of Parliament from the Puea Pandin Party, a member of the coalition government, threatened to vote against Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama if he could not clarify the Preah Vihear Temple issue (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Economic growth could fall below six percent this year due to soaring oil prices and political uncertainties, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said (BANGKOK POST)

- In an attempt to encourage car owners to shift to using natural gas for vehicles, 47 local insurance firms have agreed to offer 10 percent discounts on insurance premiums against vehicle damage caused by modifying them to use NGV (BANGKOK POST)

- The Royal Irrigation Department is ready to begin four water development projects worth 17.5 billion baht later this year to restore confidence and generate additional water supplies (BANGKOK POST)

- Condominium developers Ananda Development Co and Metrostar Property Pcl have assured buyers that they will receive their units and that construction has already begun (BANGKOK POST)

- A see-saw session closed with a rarely-seen zero change for the Stock Exchange of Thailand Index (BANGKOK POST)

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