Thai PM cancels trip to Thaksin stronghold on security fears

Thailand's prime minister announced Thursday that he had cancelled a visit to a northern stronghold of his rival, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, owing to security concerns.

Abhisit Vejjajiva was set to travel to the northern city of Chiang Mai for a commerce meeting on Sunday, but decided against the trip after receiving death threats, despite initially downplaying the security risk.

The cancellation highlights the political instability faced by Thailand, which has been wracked by rival street protests for months.