PRESS DIGEST - Thai newspapers - Aug 8

BANGKOK, Aug 8 (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

- Suchat Tadatamrongvej, the new deputy finance minister, asked Tarisa Watanagase, the Bank of Thailand governor, to step aside following her unbending position on monetary policy (THE NATION)

- U.S. President George W. Bush said the United States sought an end to tyranny in Myanmar as he and first Lady Laura Bush spent much of their time in Thailand expressing concern over human rights and democracy in the military-ruled country (THE NATION)

- The opposition is pressing the government to speed up enactment of 30 key organic laws, including those governing people's rights and liberties "before its time runs out." (BANGKOK POST)

BUSINESS

- Thai shares .SETI rallied 4.29 percent to 705.35 points, the biggest gain for almost a year, buoyed by a buying spree by institutional investors who speculated that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra might seek political exile and that Thai politics would become more stable (THE NATION)

- The Bank of Thailand must have independence in conducting monetary policy, according to deputy governor Atchana Waiquamdee (BANGKOK POST)

- The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce foresees economic growth increasing to 5.6 percent, the highest in four years, thanks to the government's economic stimulus package and easing oil prices (THE NATION)  Continued...