BANGKOK, March 26 -- Denying rumours spreading in Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Saturday that a general election will definitely be held and urged  the public not to pay attention on these rumours.

Mr Suthep reaffirmed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s earlier statement that he would dissolve the House of Representatives in early May and, according to the constitution, that an election must be held within 45 or 60 days after the House dissolution.

Urging the Thais not to pay attention to rumours, Mr Suthep, also secretary-general of the ruling Democrat Party, said  he could affirm that the election would be held as earlier stated by the prime minister and that his party would try its best to win the general election, especially in Bangkok.

He avoided commenting on other political parties, especially about earlier press reports that Purachai Piumsombun, a former interior minister under the ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, planned to lead a newly-formed Pracha Santi Party in the upcoming election which could affect the Democrat Party in terms of seats won in the House of Representatives.

Also, Mr Suthep could not say whether the Internal Security Act (ISA) which is now enforced in some districts in Bangkok, could still be implemented during the election. However, he asked people not to worry too much about the Act.

The deputy premier also added that he believed no one has pressured members of the Election Commission to resign.

On the Civil Court ordering 13 core leaders of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to pay Airports of Thailand PLC (AoT) Bt522 million, plus 7.5 percent interest calculated from the date when the occupation of the two airports here ended, Mr Suthep said everybody has to respect the law. The PAD defendants could appeal the ruling.

In late 2008, the PAD leaders led their supporters in occupying Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports while pressuring the then-government of Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law of  former premier Thaksin, to step down. After the occupation of the airports ended, the AoT filed a civil suit against the PAD leaders, while police levied charges of terrorism against them. (MCOT online news)