His Majesty the King inspects royal guardsmen at their annual parade held in the Royal Plaza yesterday to mark the King's birthday on Dec 5. _ SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

His Majesty the King yesterday called on the armed forces to do more than protect the country's sovereignty, saying they should work hard for national development and people's well-being.

The monarch inspected 2,243 royal guards from 13 battalions gathered at the Royal Plaza for the annual oath of allegiance ceremony to mark the King's birthday on Dec 5.

The King thanked all royal guards and urged them to be determined to do their duty well with two ultimate goals _ national security and the people's well-being. Thai soldiers had long been performing two major tasks _ preserving national sovereignty, and developing the country and improving the people's livelihood, he said.

All had to regard the development of the country as seriously as their defence role since their victory in an internal war _ against poverty _ would help block enemies from outside.

An army source said green Jeeps in the royal motorcade were pollution-free electric vehicles built by the army especially for the ceremony.