BANGKOK: American President Barack Obama is reportedly to head to Thailand's capital, Bangkok, next month in an official visit. Despite the report, the Thai government was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that the scheduled November 18-19 visit has not been confirmed by Washington. Senior officials and staff of the US Embassy in Bangkok, as well as those from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and special branch police met at Bangkok's Government House on Thursday for an unofficial discussion on preparations for the US President's forthcoming trip to Thailand. Officials from the United States and Thailand, as well as Thai police also inspected Santi Maitree and Thai Khu Fa buildings in the compound of the Thai government seat, as part of the preparations for Thailand's reception of Obama. Staff of the US Embassy in Bangkok declined to elaborate on the US President's planned visit. However, the result of the upcoming US presidential election on Nov 6, 2012 could decide whether Obama will make the visit to Thailand. Obama earlier planned to visit Thailand after the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) in Cambodia but cancelled the plan. The ARF in Cambodia was held in July this year. Last month angry protests were held at the US Embassy in Bangkok, sparking fears of rising anti-Americanism in the Southeast Asian country.
