ABC News,,Updated
Thailand's king Bhumibol urged a group of newly appointed judges to operate honestly. (AFP)
Thailand's king has appeared on television for the first time since anti-government Red Shirt protesters took over central Bangkok.
King Bhumibol appeared to address a group of newly appointed judges.
He did not speak of the crisis affecting Thailand directly. Instead, he told the new members of the judiciary to do their job with honesty.
"In this country there may be some people who forget their duty," he said.
"You should be an example by working honestly and properly."
King Bhumibol says that will help the country remain orderly.
Thailand's opposition has been trying to get an audience with the king, who is seen as a unifying force.
Thailand's pro-monarchist Yellow Shirts have threatened to move against the Red Shirts to protect the country if the government does not stop the protests.
The Yellow Shirts are a pro-establishment group that shut down Bangkok's airports in 2008 before a court verdict removed the government and the current administration was installed.
They are fiercely opposed to exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his poor rural allies, the Red Shirts.
There is now concern that if the Yellow Shirts move onto the streets the two groups will end up fighting each other.
A previous one-week deadline set by the Yellow Shirts for the end of the protest has already expired.
The Red Shirts have vowed to conduct a nationwide campaign to stop police and soldiers from moving to Bangkok to bolster armed forces in the capital.
The Reds have already stopped a number of convoys of police from moving to Bangkok from other parts of Thailand.
They have blocked roads and slashed tyres to prevent them from reinforcing security forces in the city.
In at least one incident, police scuffled with protesters when they moved against them, armed with batons and riot shields.
Police and military have made several arrests and warned that blocking roads will not be tolerated.
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