PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - July 18

BANGKOK, July 18 (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

- Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda has refused to give credence to the surprise ceasefire announcement by three Muslim men claiming to control 11 insurgent groups operating in the restive southern border provinces (BANGKOK POST)

- Members of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy clashed with local people in Si Sa Ket who set up tents to block them from Preah Vihear temple (BANGKOK POST)

- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will meet top military commanders to map out ways of defusing border tension at Preah Vihear temple following an alarming build-up of troops on both sides of the border (THE NATION)

- The prospects for Thai frozen shrimp exports to the United States received a boost from the latest WTO ruling, Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan said (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- The Finance Ministry stands ready to implement "new measures" to spur growth and check inflation if monetary policies fail to produce results, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said (BANGKOK POST)

- Japanese investors still see Thailand as a strong destination for investment despite the political tension, according to Akao Nobutoshi, the secretary-general of the ASEAN-Japan Centre (BANGKOK POST)

- Bangkok's new mass-transit routes could be delayed due to political uncertainties, a senior Finance Ministry official said (BANGKOK POST)

- Promoting local products, direct marketing and exploring new potential markets are three key strategies being followed by the Commerce Ministry to meet its 15 percent export growth target for 2008 (THE NATION)

- Soon Hua Seng Group, one of the country's leading agro-industrail conglomerates, is expected to exit the insurance business by selling its stake in Advance Insurance to the Japanese investment fund, Asia partnership Fund (APF) Group (BANGKOK POST)

- Charoen Pokphand Foods CPF.BK will likely enjoy higher second-quarter sales revenue, due to higher meat and egg prices in the domestic and export markets, say several brokerage houses (THE NATION) ** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and Business Day.