Thailand's Caretaker PM extends condolences to Malaysia for ill-fated flight

BANGKOK, March 10 (TNA) - Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has extended her condolences to her Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak, on behalf of the Thai government and people, regarding the missing of a Malaysian Airlines plane and promised Thailand's full-scale support in the search mission. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told journalists of the movement on Monday morning, noting that Yingluck phoned Najib Sunday night. Apart from extending her condolences, Surapong said, Yingluck also informed the Malaysian prime minister that the Royal Thai Navy has deployed a vessel to support the search mission. Surapong acknowledged that he has also talked to Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman and told the latter that Thailand is ready to provide all possible assistance. But Surapong revealed the Malaysian and Thai leaders did not mention the possibility that a terror act might cause the disappearance of the ill-fated airplane, but they agreed that they should wait for a clear conclusion of an official investigation. Regarding to the use of a passport stolen from an Italian tourist to buy a ticket to the missing flight, Surapong stressed he would propose an integrated database about lost passports that would allow worldwide police and airlines' staffs to use and facilitate their detection of passengers holding fake passports. Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanatabut, Secretary-General of the National Security Council (NSC), told reporters that terrorism is one among many theories that Malaysian authorities have for the case of the missing Boeing 777 plane, while admitting that the passport, stolen in Thailand, affects the national image and Thai authorities need to probe into the passport theft. (TNA)