PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers on May 23

BANGKOK, May 23 (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

- Asean, the United Nations and the Burmese junta will jointly set up a nine-member core group to run what Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan called a "coalition of mercy" to help cyclone-hit Myanmar (THE NATION)

- The election of Chat Chonlaworn as constitution court president has drawn questions about the court's ability to remain neutral when deciding sensitive cases (BANGKOK POST)

- Many of Thailand's native fruits and vegetables are under threat of extinction as farmers increasingly concentrate on mono-cropping, an agricultural expert has warned (BANGKOK POST)

- Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the visiting chairman of the Dubai World group, expressed confidence that the proposed logistics network and land-bridge project in southern Thailand would be successful (THE NATION)

- The People's Alliance for Democracy is planning a rally on Sunday to preserve the Constitution and constitutional monarchy (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- PTT (PTT.BK) is rethinking its planned investment in a seventh gas-separation plant, due to price control measures on liquefied petroleum gas, which would further spur demand for the fuel amid soaring oil prices (THE NATION)

- The telecom regulator will hold a public hearing next month on the recommendations of its consultant on the awarding of third-generation (3G) licences (THE NATION)

- German businessmen are interested in investing in nine mass transit project and the state railway's double-track expansion, Transport Minister Santi Prompat said (THE NATION)

- Rice millers are calling for government-to-government deals to prevent a fall in domestic rice prices. The Thai Rice Millers Association will make the proposal to Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan today (BANGKOK POST)

- Low-cost airline One-Two-Go will increase its fuel surcharge by 100 baht ($3.13) to 2,050 baht per sector for all flights, starting from June 1 (THE NATION) ** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and The Nation. ($1=31.92 Baht)