Thai PM enters defence office for first time

BANGKOK, July 11 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived at the Defence Ministry on Thursday morning for the first time for her concurrent position as the defence minister, amid extra protection. Yingluck was received by Deputy Defence Minister General Yutthasak Sasiprapa, high-ranking officials of the ministry and three armed forces chiefs. The prime minister, in her capacity as the defence minister, her deputy and the armed forces chiefs then discussed the work of the Defence Ministry. In the meantime, the Defence Ministry was heavily guarded by 1,350 anti-riot officers deployed by the metropolitan police division, as two anti-government groups, including the Thai Patriots Networks and the Multi-Colored Shirt Group, staged their demonstration there to block the prime minister from entering the defence portfolio. The demonstrators took turns to criticize the government and the armed forces chiefs on their loudspeaker trucks. (TNA)