BANGKOK - THE head of the South-east Asian bloc Asean said on Sunday that time is 'running short' for crisis-hit Thailand as it prepares to hold a major summit, adding that a delay would enable better preparations.

Dr Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of the Association of South-east Asian Nations, issued the statement during a visit to Thailand as the country grapples with a blockade of its airports by anti-government protesters.

'As time is running short, a delay would enable the secretariat to prepare better for the summit' scheduled for Dec 15-18 in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Dr Surin said in a statement.

The statement said Dr Surin, a former Thai foreign minister, had 'reassured' Thai authorities 'that a postponement will not negatively affect Asean work plans too much.'

But it added that he understood the 'hesitation' of Thailand, which currently holds the rotating chair of Asean, to push back the meeting of leaders of the 10-member grouping.

'I certainly empathise with the Thai leaders and am grateful for their consideration of the matter. But I assure them that we can rearrange our work plans if Thailand... decides to postpone it for a few weeks,' he said.

Thailand is in the grip of political chaos, as protesters trying to topple the government on Tuesday seized the nation's main Suvarnabhumi airport and forced its closure. They have also taken over a domestic airport.

Thailand's foreign minister said on Sunday the kingdom may have to postpone a regional summit until March as anti-government protesters continue their occupation of Bangkok's two airports.

Mr Sompong Amornviwat said that the Thai cabinet would make its final decision on Tuesday over whether to go ahead with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting scheduled for Dec 15-18.

'This is just my personal comment, but Thailand may have to postpone, but the postponement would not be long - it may be postponed to early March,' Mr Sompong said on Thai state-run NBT television station.

'But it depends on the cabinet's decision, because the postponement would not only affect Thailand financially, but more importantly it will affect the country's image.'

Supporters of the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) repeated that feat at the smaller Don Mueang airport a day later, and have also been occupying premier Somchai Wongsawat's cabinet offices since August.

The worsening political situation in the kingdom has prompted Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to suggest postponing the Asean summit, and the bloc's secretary general travelled overland to Thailand on Friday to assess the situation.

Thailand announced in late October that the Asean summit would be moved from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, a government stronghold where Somchai is currently running the country from as the protests drag on.

Authorities said it was because of northern Thailand's cooler climate, but the anti-government protests are believed to be a key factor.

In December 2006, the Philippines postponed that year's Asean summit on the island of Cebu until the following month due to worries about an incoming storm and concerns over a possible terror attack. -- AFP

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