Cabs spread anti-govt propaganda: PM

Cabs spread anti-govt propaganda: PM

THAILAND: Thai taxi drivers are spreading antigovernment propaganda when talking with their passengers, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said in Bangkok on Saturday.

"There have been dirty tricks recently," Thaksin said during his weekly radio address. "There is a gang hiring people to spread bad rumors about me in taxis," he said. "There are also leaflets saying bad things (about me)."

Thaksin, a multimillionaire telecoms tycoon, swept to a landslide election victory last year. But he has seen his popularity dip recently because of a row with the local media after it emerged the government had launched a probe into assets of prominent government critics.

Thaksin said he was not overreacting to the alleged taxi propaganda campaign. "I am not sensitive about this, but it may cause damage to the country as its Prime Minister has been the target of such rumors," he said. -- Reuters