Bangkok (ANTARA/AFP) - Thailand`s Prime Minister said Monday he had cancelled a trip to Australia after authorities called for a harsh security act to be invoked to deal with mass anti-government rallies this weekend.

Security chiefs have warned of possible violence when supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra gather in Bangkok on March 14, just over two weeks after a court seized 1.4 billion dollars of the tycoon`s fortune.

Current premier Abhisit Vejjajiva had planned to push ahead with an Australia visit from March 13 to 17, but told reporters his presence was needed while the Internal Security Act was invoked from March 11 to 23.

The government earlier announced plans to invoke the tough law for the so-called "Red Shirt" protests as it permits the army to help the police and gives the authorities powers to impose curfews and ban gatherings.

"As head of the administrative side, I will have to be here," Abhisit said.

"It is bad because Australia is Thailand`s friend and important trading partner."

The rally promises to be the biggest since last April, when up to 100,000 Red Shirts protested against Abhisit and ensuing riots left two people dead and derailed a major Asian summit.

The Reds have held a string of protests since another court decision removed Thaksin`s allies from government and brought Abhisit to power in December 2008, after a blockade of Bangkok`s airports by rival, royalist "Yellow Shirts".

Thaksin, who was toppled in a coup in 2006 and is living in exile to avoid a two-year jail term for graft, continues to split Thai society, largely between his mainly rural supporters and those among the Bangkok elites who loathe him. (*)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono
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