Foreign governments frustrated

Foreign governments were yesterday racing to evacuate tens of thousands of visitors stranded in Thailand as frustrations with the Thai authorities grew.

About 30,000 travelers have missed their flights each day since demonstrations forced the closure of the Thai capital's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport last Tuesday and the domestic hub Don Muang two days later. Since Friday, the U-Tapao naval base, 140km from Bangkok, has been the only way in or out of the country for stranded tourists.

'It's complete chaos and pandemonium,' said Ms Bonnie Chan, 29, from San Diego, California. 'We've been given incorrect information from the airlines. The US Embassy says they can't help us. The airlines keep giving us the run-around.' The situation has caused international concern. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith yesterday called it 'frustrating'.

He said Canberra had urged Thai airlines and the tourism authorities to provide extra flights out and accommodation for the hundreds of Australian visitors.

The US Embassy in Bangkok said it had asked the Thai Foreign Ministry to provide 'appropriate compensation' to stranded US citizens. It said 'large numbers' of Americans were unable to leave Thailand and expressed its deep concern to the Thai government.

The European Union also voiced concern in a statement issued in Bangkok by EU ambassadors. 'We urge the protesters to evacuate the airports peacefully without delay in order to avoid a major consular crisis and its economic consequences for Thailand,' it said.

China had arranged for seven charter flights to retrieve its stranded nationals, believed to number 2,000-3,000 people, by Saturday and had further flights planned for yesterday, Xinhua news agency said.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered her foreign department to account for hundreds of Filipinos among those stranded in the Thai capital and asked that they be brought home to Manila from the northern city of Chiang Mai.