Bangkok: Thailand international airport resumed full operations today, two days after anti-government protesters ended their siege, amid continued political uncertainty in the country due to revered monarch's illness.

"Suvarnabhumi has officially resumed operations. All of the staff here are so happy to return to work," an Airport of Thailand official said. "Thai Airways TG971 bound for Moscow officially marked the full and smooth resumption of the airport," the official informed. Although flights had resumed operations from the airport since Wednesday after protesters packed up and left, but passengers were still checking-in at a centre in the Bangkok city.

The airport reopening at 0930 IST was marked by a celebrations with traditional Thai classical dance. Most of the shops and restaurants are now gradually opening up for the visitors after a clean-up operation, local media reported. Meanwhile King Bhumibol Adulyadej's failure to show up for the anxiously awaited birthday address yesterday shocked his countrymen reeling from three years of political uncertainty about future. His last public appearance was on Wednesday when he appeared fatigued.

The airport siege had continued for eight days by thousands of protesters belonging to the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). They ended the siege after country's Constitutional Court dissolved the ruling party and forced the prime minister Somchai Wongsawat out of office. An estimated 350,000 travellers were stranded as a result of the siege. Bhumibol's six decades on the throne saw him defuse political crises and halt bloodshed. Thais consider the king the only man who can make people on both sides realise their political follies.

Source : PTI