PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - February 29

BANGKOK, Feb 29 (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

- Thaksin Shinawatra was offered a job as economic adviser by Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee at the same time as the former prime minister vowed to stay out of politics (BANGKOK POST)

- The cheers, and the jeers, that greeted Thaksin Shinawatra on his return to Thailand may have set the stage for him to rebuild his political empire (THE NATION)

- The festival-like atmosphere surrounding the return of Thaksin Shinawatra was in stark contrast to the noticeably quiet mood of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej (BANGKOK POST)

- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed to stay out of politics and apologised to the public for the hardship caused by his involvement in a power struggle (THE NATION)

- Public Relations Department chief Pramote Ratthavinij has become the third department chief to be moved by the People Power party-led coalition government in a week (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- Businessmen have welcomed ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's vow to stay out of politics, saying this would keep social division to a minimum and pave the way for continued economic recovery (THE NATION)

- The Bank of Thailand is expected to amend the 30 percent reserve requirement on capital controls within the next few days, according to Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee (BANGKOK POST)

- Siam City Cement SCCC.BK expects domestic demand to stay flat this year at best despite the government's acceleration of mega-projects (THE NATION)

- The country's four mobile-phone operators -- AIS ADVA.BK, DTAC (TACC.SI)DTAC.BK, True Move TRUE.BK and Hutch -- have responded to government proposals that they reduce costs with a joint plan to offer "Blue Flag" SIM cards (BANGKOK POST)

- Total Access Communication DTAC.BK(TACC.SI) is concerned that the state's push to cut mobile-phone charges will hurt small players (THE NATION)

- The energy minister is seeking ways to limit LPG price subsidies on household use, but not the transport and industrial sectors in her bid to curb demand growth (BANGKOK POST)

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