BANGKOK, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Sunday that he will take the opportunity of attending the United Nations General Assembly later this month to explain to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and heads of state that his government is "still able to control the situation".

    In his weekly TV and radio address, Samak said he will address the UN General Assembly on Sept. 25, the same day that the Appeals Court here would pass its ruling on a libel case against him.

    Samak said he has written the court saying that he cannot attend the hearing because he must attend the world body's meeting. His letter will be submitted to the court on Monday.

    The outspoken prime minister said he is not concerned that the military might seize power during his upcoming absence from the country.

    The military staged a coup against Samak's predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept. 19, 2006, while the then prime minister was in New York about to address the U.N. General Assembly.

    Ex-premier Thaksin and his wife missed mandatory court appearances in Bangkok and are now in Britain, where they have applied for political asylum.

    Samak said he must attend the General Assembly to inform the world's people that the political turmoil in Thailand now lies within Government House.

    Anti-government protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy seized Government House on Aug. 26 and demanded Samak and his cabinet to resign unconditionally.