SMOKING DEALS

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly said it was failing to beat the big four
foreign cigarette makers. Instead, it proposed joining them to sell tobacco
to the world -- and cigarettes to Indochina.

TTM managing director Ong-art Champoontha was alarmed because cigarette
sales are off 20 percent in recent months. He said Philip Morris, British
American Tobacco, RJ Reynolds and Japan Tobacco all are interested in
investing in the Thai state firm.