BANGKOK, March 14 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Thai newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TOP STORIES

- Bangkok Governor Pairak Kosayodhin suspended himself from duty after being implicated by the Assets Scrutiny Committee in alleged irregularities in the fire trucks and boats procurement (BANGKOK POST)

- The Election Commission appears split on whether it can, or should, penalise the People Power Party for being a nominee of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party and its banned executives, including ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (THE NATION)

- The Public Health Ministry has warned Thais who plan to travel to Hong Kong to be careful and protect themselves from the flu that has broken out there (BANGKOK POST)

- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej hopes to jump start a "neighbourly engagement" policy toward military-ruled Myanmar during his one-day trip there on Friday, his foreign minister said (THE NATION)

BUSINESS

- Ek-Chai Distribution System Co, operator of Tesco Lotus <TSCO.L> hypermarkets, is branching out into the retail property development business by introducing the community mall concept (BANGKOK POST)

- Thai stocks are poised to profit from Malaysia's political uncertainties as the neighbouring country's ruling party has lost several parties in the recent elections, securities houses said (THE NATION)

- Market leader PTT PCL <PTT.BK> has urged the government to cut the required diesel reserve to 10 days supply from 18 days in order to avert a possible shortage of the fuel (BANGKOK POST)

- One of Thailand's most prominent investment bankers, Chayotid Kridakon, has resigned abruptly from SCB Securities over a dispute with parent Siam Commercial Bank PCL <SCB.BK> (BANGKOK POST)

** Looking for more information from local sources? Factiva.com has eight Thai sources including the Bangkok Post and Business Day.

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