'New low' for Thai-Burma relations

The Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, says relations with neighbouring Burma have reached a new low, after a war of words sparked by Burmese newspaper articles criticising past Thai monarchs.

Mr Shinawatra said the normalisation of relations now depended on Burma and not Thailand, which was seeking an apology.

The articles in Burma's official media have been labelled defamatory by the prime minister for attacking Thailand's most revered institution.

Correspondents say Burma has closed its border checkpoints with Thailand and banned official visits. Relations between the two countries worsened last month after Burma accused Thailand of helping ethnic Shan rebels fighting the Burmese government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service