King's condition improves

His Majesty the King was improving in hospital a day after being treated for eight hours for medical problems, the Royal Household said late on Sunday.

Hundreds of people wearing yellow shirts -- the colour of the king's birthday in Thailand, where each day is associated with a colour -- flocked to the Siriraj Hospital to wish him a speedy recovery.

The King, whose 80th birthday will be celebrated in December, was taken to hospital on Saturday complaining of weakness in his right side. The palace said in a statement he will remain under treatment "for a further period".

It gave few details of the King's ailment.

A statement on Saturday said he had a blood clot in his leg, weakness in his right side and tests showed a slight lessening of the flow of blood to his brain.

On Sunday, it quoted doctors as saying his blood pressure and breathing were normal and the arm which had felt weakness from shoulder to elbow had gained strength.

Witnesses said hundreds of people who converged on the hospital carried royal flags and the picture of the King.

The palace asked people to write their wishes for the king on special books left at city halls across the country, as Queen Sirikit went to visit her husband in the hospital. State television said people across the country had been flocking to city halls to sign the books.

"I hope the King recovers quickly," said Wannee Klaiprapai, 58, one of the hundreds gathered around the hospital. "He is the father of Thailand and all his children want their father to get well very soon." (Agencies)