**The 81-year-old king of Thailand has been admitted to hospital suffering from fever.**People are gathering at the hospital to convey prayers and good wishes to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-serving monarch.
Doctors said the king, who has ruled for 63 years, showed signs of fatigue and was being treated with antibiotics.
King Bhumibol is deeply revered by most Thais and his health is a matter of public anxiety.
A statement from Thailand’s royal household said King Bhumibol was taken to the Siriraj hospital in Bangkok on Saturday night.
The Royal Household Bureau said the King is suffering from a fever, fatigue and loss of appetite.
‘No problem’
He is being treated with intravenous drips and antibiotics.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, army chief Anupong Paojinda and Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra were the first to sign the books.
“There is no problem with His Majesty’s conditions. From my chats with doctors, there is nothing to be concerned about,” Mr Abhisit said.
The Bangkok Post newspaper quoted a 60-year old woman, Warinan Phurahong, saying she ran to the hospital when she heard about the King’s condition and plans to stay at the hospital until His Majesty recovers.
The king, a constitutional monarch, made a rare call for stability and reconciliation in Thai politics last month, as factions fight for power, often using his name and sanctified image to strengthen their case.
The weekend saw another outbreak of street demonstrations from the opposing political camps.
The “red-shirts” marked the ousting of elected prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a coup three years ago with peaceful rallies.
In pictures: Thailand protests
Tranquil temple at centre of a storm
Mr Thaksin, criticised by some opponents as not showing enough respect to the monarchy when he was in office, spoke to the crowd from exile by video-link. He wants fresh elections and a pardon for a conflict of interest conviction.
The largely pro-government “yellow shirts” expressed their more overt type of nationalism by demonstrating on the northern Thai border with Cambodia in a long-running sovereignty dispute over a temple complex that straddles the boundary.
Their protests ended in violent clashes with Thai police.
Thailand remains deeply divided three years after the September 19, 2006 coup, which drove out Mr Thaksin while he was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr Abhisit is on his way to the same event, but the chief of the kingdom’s powerful army has scotched rumours that there would be another putsch in his absence.