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Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva - Source: Reuters -
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Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has postponed an official visit to New Zealand and Australia because of rising political tensions ahead of mass anti-government rallies , government spokesperson Panitan Wattanayagorn said on Monday.
The move reverses an earlier decision to press ahead with the visit that was due to begin on March 14.
Fearing unrest, the Thai government is seeking Cabinet approval for the introduction of crowd control measures under the internal security act.
"If the cabinet approves it the Prime Minister has to be here to oversee it," Panitan told AAP.
The legislation requires the Prime Minister to be the final arbiter to call on military forces to assist police to control crowds.
The spokesperson did not say when the visit to Australia and New Zealand would be rescheduled.
Mass rallies led by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are to press the Abhisit government to step down and call for fresh elections.
The rallies begin on March 12 and are expected to last up to a week.
Bangkok media reports have warned of potential violence during the protests if peaceful rallies fail to force the government to step aside.
The rallies are reported to be backed by ousted leader Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now living in exile and facing charges corruption and abuse of power while in office until a military coup forced him from office in 2006.
Thaksin was recently found guilty by the Thai Supreme Court for abuse of power and concealment of wealth.
Australia is among more than 20 countries to issue travel warnings against frequenting locations in Bangkok where large crowds are expected.
