Envoy's remark hurts Thai FM

Envoy's remark hurts Thai FM

BANGKOK (AFP): Sparks flew yesterday between Thailand's new foreign minister and the Saudi charge d'affaires over the Saudi envoy's remark that he expects at least 100 pieces of Saudi jewels missing in Thailand to be recovered.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed that Minister Thaksin Shinawatra wanted to talk to Saudi envoy Mohammed Said Khoja about his statements to the press, but had not formally summoned the diplomat.

News reports quoted Shinawatra as saying Khoja appeared to have set new conditions for settling the five-year-old row that has poisoned relations between the two countries.

"I don't like the style of criticism of the charge d'affaires in telling Thailand what to do," Thaksin told the Bangkok Post.