Singapore PM pays respect to late Thai King

BANGKOK, October 21 (TNA) - Visiting Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pays his respect to late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The Singapore prime minister and his wife laid a wreath to pay respect to the late and revered Thai King at Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall on Friday morning and later proceeded to sign a message of condolence at the Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall. Diplomatic corps and representatives of several organizations have crowded the Grand Palace to sign their names in the book of condolences, namely Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bhutan Tshewang Chophel Dorji and honorary consuls of 23 countries including Poland, Fiji and Honduras. Despite the warm weather, the large number of mourners lined up in order at the Grand Palace, waiting to go inside to pay their respects to the royal portrait of the late and beloved Thai monarch at the Sala Sahathai Samakom Pavillion. Late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyaej, the world's longest-reigned Thai monarch, passed away peacefully at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital on October 13 at the age of 89. (TNA)