Thai king calls for unity

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (L) and Queen Sirikit talk after the king's address to the nation in Bangkok yesterday. Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej called for unity among his people after months of political turmoil in a speech to mark his 60th anniversary on the throne. PHOTO: AFP

"I am elevated after seeing all these people gathered together. This reminds me of the good virtue of unity, which has helped our Thai people to preserve our nation and will help develop our country in the future," he told the crowd of at least 500,000 people who had gathered to see him.

"Everybody must be fair in their opinions, act with honesty, comply with the rules and help each other," the king said from the balcony of one of Bangkok's marble palaces, during his first public audience in more than six years.