Bangkok: bittersweet birthday

Election tensions in Thailand will be put to one side this week as birthday celebrations for King Bhumibol Adulyadej reach a climax.

The world's longest reigning monarch is 80 on Wednesday, and a national holiday is the culmination of a series of events, including parades of royal barges and elephants, and the creation of a diamond encrusted emblem.

The king is deeply revered. And while not formally holding any political power, he does wield considerable influence. It remains to be seen if he will exercise that influence in the run-up to elections on December 23.

For the country's stability is not guaranteed in the advent to elections. The military rulers' nemesis -- Thaksin Shinawatra -- continues to grab headlines from his new powerbase at Manchester City soccer club in the UK, while his allies look destined for a strong showing in the elections.