Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who kicked off a new censorship row with an order to cable-TV broadcasters to block the opposition's ASTV station, denied on Saturday he intends to try to close the satellite- and Internet-based TV station.

ASTV, owned and operated by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) founder Sondhi Limthongkul, is currently broadcasting saturation coverage of the PAD's anti-government rallies in central Bangkok.

Pol Capt Chalerm told a press conference on Saturday that members of the PAD and some senators had misunderstood his order on Friday.

He told provincial governors to order all cable-TV operators in the provinces to stop carrying the ASTV signal, and threatened to jail any operator who defied him.

He claimed he ordered the ban because PAD members and supporters called for the overthrow of the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and used "rude words".

However, it is far from clear that the minister has any authority to halt or otherwise control broadcasts by satellite TV.

Several cable TV operators in provinces immediately suspended broadcasting the ASTV coverage of the PAD rallies following his threat of taking legal action.

Mr Sondhi, a core PAD leader and publisher of the Manager Group of newspapers, and founded ASTV at the height of anti-Thaksin Shinawatra rallies in 2005 and 2006.

The PAD decided late Friday to file a complaint with the Administrative Court against Mr Chalerm becase of his issuing the order.

Mr Chalerm said that ASTV itself is protected by the Administrative Court, but legal action could be taken against its operators as well as cable TV stations which relay its programming if the ASTV commits acts which are "troublesome to the public" as well as using strong words such as chasing the government from power.

Dismissing charges that he was interfering with the media, Mr. Chalerm said he only wanted to "enforce the law." He has yet to indicate what law he is enforcing. (BangkokPost.com, TNA)