BANGKOK - THAILAND'S new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday protesters who occupied government offices and blockaded Bangkok's airports should be held legally accountable for their actions.

Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) first took to the streets in May in their bid to unseat the previous government.

One of the leaders of the PAD is Mr Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a member of Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party.

'With every incident that has happened we must uphold the rule of law,' Mr Abhisit told reporters at Government House, the site besieged by protesters for two-and-a-half months, causing about one million dollars' (S$1.44 million) worth of damage.

'My party member is also under the same law. I have told him not to use immunity,' Mr Abhisit added.

Democrat Party member Somkiat was among a group of PAD leaders who led thousands of protesters to occupy the compound in late August, demanding allies of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra leave government.

The PAD campaign culminated in an eight-day blockade of Bangkok's airports late November that left about 350,000 travellers stranded.

The demonstrators left their protest sites only on December 3, when a court ruling forced premier Somchai Wongsawat from office and disbanded his People Power Party, paving the way for a new coalition led by the former opposition Democrat Party.

The Democrats were forced to woo former allies of Thaksin in order to gain enough votes to form a coalition, but Mr Abhisit told the BBC he had not 'sold his soul'.

'I have made very clear in my talks with all the groups that are joining me why we are putting this coalition together. We just want Thailand to move on,' Mr Abhisit said.

Mr Abhisit is now preparing a list of cabinet members to be submitted to Thailand's king by midday on Friday for approval.

Thai media speculated that the foreign minister's post could go to 64-year-old Kasit Piromya - a controversial choice because of the former diplomat's vocal support for the PAD. -- AFP

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