Bangkok - A judicial inquiry into the slaying and alleged torture by authorities of a Muslim religious leader in southern Thailand is being blocked by army stonewalling, said the New York-based Human Rights Watch on Friday.

Although the Thai army chief, General Anupong Paochinda, has pledged a full investigation, local officers have effectively refused to cooperate with a court inquest, said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. "No soldier has ever been prosecuted for abducting, torturing, or extrajudicially killing Muslims in the south. Because the evidence is so strong, this should be an easy case for the army to show it's serious about addressing impunity," said Adams in a statement. Yapa Koseng, a

Bangkok - The Thai stock market fell 2.35 per cent Thursday on uncertainties about the US economy, analysts said.

Bangkok  - Thailand's Supreme Court barred ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra from leaving the kingdom for China and England at the end of last month, media reports said Thursday.

Phnom Penh - The Cambodian government would not tolerate "anti-government elements" making Preah Vihear temple a political issue and would not permit a proposed march on the Thai embassy, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Thursday.

He was responding to an announcement by the little-known Society, Morality and National Culture Institute that it was lobbying for permission to stage a 3,000-strong rally around the Thai embassy.

The group's leader, Po Samnang, said the rally was aimed at showing Cambodian support for listing the 11th century Hindu border temple as a World Heritage site.

"These are anti-government groups, so we will treat it as a domestic Cambodian matter. Thailand trys to help Cambodia so we should not confuse this issue," Kaharith said.

Bangkok - Thailand's agro-industry giant Charoen Pokphand will proceed with a three-year investment plan for south-west China, including earthquake-hit Sichuan province, media reports said Wednesda

Bangkok  - Thailand on Tuesday withdrew its support for a Cambodian proposal to list Preah Vihear te