Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has refused to swap to a bullet-proof car despite receiving many death threats in recent days.

Abhisit declined yesterday to change from his official car to a bullet-proof model offered by his security team. He said it had nothing to do threats he had received in recent days.

The team had told him they did not want the bullet-proof car to go unused, but Abhisit said there was nothing wrong with the car he was using.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and former army chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin preferred to use the bullet-proof car.

Meanwhile, the PM said he saw no menace with movements by groups aligned to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra unless they moved to attack Thailand or broke lese majeste laws.

Commenting on reports that the former PM had hired lobbyists to attack Thailand's reputation, Abhisit said political fights were normal. But it was the government's duty to protect the national image.

The Foreign Ministry must be more active to create correct misunderstandings about Thailand with foreign countries, he said.

Domestically, the government had started solving problems, he said. Some funds were expected to be approved next week for disbursal shortly. -The Nation / Asia News Network