'Slip-ups' and broken bones for Thailand's prominent leaders

Perhaps the stress from the ongoing political stalemate has taken a toll, but Thailand's political leaders seem to have become more accident-prone lately.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva slipped and fell on Wednesday, breaking his right collarbone, The Nation quoted a party spokesman as saying.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra slipped as she stepped out of a car, leaving her wheelchair-bound for a while.

In Mr Abhisit's case, the accident occurred at his house in Watthana district as he was leaving the house for an event commemorating a TV station's anniversary.

The opposition leader was taken to the Ramathibodi Hospital, where an X-ray found that he had broken his collarbone, said Democrat spokesman Chavanon Intharakomalsut.

He added that Mr Abhisit will undergo an operation to reset the broken bone, and may have to stay in the hospital for a few days.

Despite the injury, Mr Abhisit told reporters in hospital that he was in good spirits. He even cracked a joke, according to the Bangkok Post.

"I think my legs went weak after Manchester United lost 3-0 to Manchester City last night," the Post quoted the former premier, a football fan, as saying.

On the other side of the political divide, Ms Yingluck, the dominant Puea Thai Party leader, slipped as she stepped out of a car in the northern city of Chiang Mai on March 15. She had to attend a Cabinet meeting in a wheelchair as a result.

That, however, may be the least of her worries. Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday rejected her request to extend a deadline to defend herself against charges over a rice subsidy scheme.

She was told to appear before the commission by Monday.

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