Former Thai PM in hospital

Fri, 20 Dec 1996 | Source: REUTERS

BANGKOK (Reuter): Former prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan, currently top economic and foreign affairs adviser to the new Thai government, has been operated on for stomach cancer, an aide said yesterday.

"He underwent stomach surgery and his condition is stable, he is safe," the aide told Reuters, dispelling rumors that he was in a critical condition.

Talk that former premier Chatichai, 76, had been admitted to hospital had a negative effect on the stock market, which tumbled by more than two percent in early trading. The market was also down because of foreign investor selling, brokers said.

Chatichai was prime minister from 1989 to February 1991 when his government was overthrown in a bloodless military coup.

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