BANGKOK - A HIGHLY anticipated television address by Thailand's prime minister and army chief went blank for several minutes Sunday after an unidentified party interrupted the satellite signal, officials said.

The pre-taped address, by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and General Anupong Paojinda, began at 0200 GMT (10am Singapore time) but after a short while, the television station it was being broadcast on went off the air.

'Someone has interrupted the satellite signal,' government minister Sathit Wongnongtoey told reporters. Several minutes later, the television station went back on the air and began screening the programme again from the start.

Abhisit and Anupong were expected to detail their plans for handling weeks of political crisis after rejecting a compromise offer from 'Red Shirt' protesters demanding fresh elections. -- AFP