Special Report: Crisis in Thailand

   ¡¡BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Political attacks against caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should end now as the prime minister had stepped down from office, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said on Saturday.

    Speaking to journalists, Suriya, who is also secretary-general of the ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party, said: "The caretaker prime minister has taken a pause in his political role as demanded.So, a flow of attacks against him should now stop."

    Suriya referred to continued verbal attacks and movements against Thaksin by both the former opposition bloc and his opponents led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

    The Democrat Party, the former opposition leader in the parliament, and the PAD have vowed to forge ahead their moves to "demolish" what they call the "Thaksin Rule", representing the TRT-led government's alleged interfering into independent organs, local media, as well as abusing of power and involving in corruption and nepotism-based business interests.

    The caretaker premier's main political rival and opponents have also attempted to seek the King's intervention for a royally-appointed government with a new caretaker prime minister to take care of the planned second-round political reform over the next 9-15 months.

    During its mass rally at Sanam Luang here on Friday, PAD core members asserted that they would continue to press for Thaksin's resignation and totally suspend his political role.

    They announced that the coalition would temporarily end its demonstrations from April 8 to the end of this month, but would renew rallies unless Thaksin quits by then.

    The caretaker premier announced Tuesday evening that he would step down from office once a new prime minister from his TRT Party is elected by the House of Representatives after the April 2 general election.

    Thaksin later assigned caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya to serve as prime minister on his behalf from April 6. Enditem