Thai Prime Minister postpones NZ visit

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has postponed an official visit to New Zealand scheduled for next week.

A spokesman from Foreign Minister Murray McCully's office said the visit had been postponed as opposed to cancelled.

Overseas media said Mr Vejjajiva, who was due to head to New Zealand after visiting Australia from March 14, had pulled out of both visits because of political tensions and rising security threats in his home country.

Protesters loyal to ousted fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been planning to converge on the capital, Bangkok, to push for fresh elections and there are fears violence could erupt.

Protests with a similar intent forced the cancellation last year of the East Asian Summit after the conference venue was stormed.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key flew to Bangkok to attend the conference but departed again following security fears and advice that he may not be able to get to the venue amidst the chaos.

- NZPA