深受民众爱戴的泰国国王普密蓬在其生日庆典中向全国发表讲话，呼吁泰国人民为了国家而相互支持。

86岁的普密蓬国王星期四发表演讲之际，反对派暂时停止了推翻政府的努力。

普密蓬国王住院治疗四年后，于今年早些时候出院。在华欣海滨王宫，普密蓬国王以缓慢的语调发表了讲话。

出于对普密蓬国王的尊敬，反对派停止了持续一星期的抗议活动。在政治处于分裂状态的泰国，作为统一象征的普密蓬国王受到广泛尊敬。

但抗议活动领导人素贴誓言将于星期五继续进行示威，并表示要一直坚持到英拉总理辞职并把权力移交给一个不经选举产生的委员会。

Thailand's revered monarch called on the Thai people to "support each other for the sake of the country," during his annual birthday address to the nation.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who turns 86 Thursday, spoke as opposition protesters paused their efforts aimed at overthrowing the government.

The king, who was released from the hospital earlier this year after a four-year stay, spoke slowly as he read his address at his seaside palace in Hua Hin.

The weeks-old protests were stopped out of respect for the monarch, who is widely revered as a unifying figure in the politically polarized nation.

But protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban pledged to continue the fight Friday, vowing to not back down until Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resigns and turns over control to an unelected council.