PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - March 18

BANGKOK, March 18 (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

- Military officers linked to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have pushed for a committee to investigate the alleged misuse of the military budget by the now-defunct Council for National Security, a Defence Ministry source said (BANGKOK POST)

- House speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat filed a complaint asking police to launch criminal proceedings against the Election Commission for abuse of power in charging him with electoral fraud (THE NATION)

- A pro-government group formed by People Power Party members of parliament plans to hold weekly meetings in parallel with those organised by the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (THE NATION)

- The Public health Ministry declared rabbit fever an emerging disease in Thailand after its first victim was diagnosed in Prachuap Khiri Khan (BANGKOK POST)

- The ball is now back in Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin's court after the government refused to allow him to take a leave of absence as he fights corruption charges (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Consumers are likely to face an increasing loss of purchasing power and moderate rates of consumption may continue because of the rising costs of goods and services, according to economists (THE NATION)

- The Bank of Thailand is expected to maintain its short-term interest rates for now due to inflation fears, even with expectations of further rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve to prop up the ailing US economy and soothe rattled financial markets (BANGKOK POST)

- The excise tax on telephone services may be revived and a proposal to impose a pollution tax on tyre manufacturers is also under consideration (THE NATION)

- Thai stocks fell 1.38 percent on Monday as global stock markets dropped sharply due to worries about the stability of the U.S. financial sector after the collapse of the investment bank Bear Stearns (BANGKOK POST)

- Bangkok Dusit Medical Services BGH.BK, the country's largest hospital operator, projects revenue growth of 10-15 percent this year to 22 billion baht (BANGKOK POST)

- Cash-strapped Samphan Insurance is likely to have its licence withdrawn next month if it fails to close deals for a new joint venture by April 4, the Office of the Insurance Commission says (THE NATION)

** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and Business Day.