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Protests cause Thai speech delay Thai PM speech off amid protests
(10 minutes later)
Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has had to delay his opening speech to parliament due to anti-government protests. Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been forced to put off his opening speech to parliament due to anti-government protests.
Hundreds of protesters loyal to deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded parliament on Monday, after tens of thousands also gathered on Sunday.Hundreds of protesters loyal to deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded parliament on Monday, after tens of thousands also gathered on Sunday.
The demonstrators say Mr Abhisit has no mandate to lead and should resign. The speech has now been rescheduled for Tuesday morning.
He was elected in a parliamentary vote two weeks ago, after a court dissolved the former pro-Thaksin government. Protesters say Mr Abhisit - the third prime minister in four months - has no mandate to lead and should resign.
Mr Abhisit is Thailand's third prime minister in four months. He was elected in a parliamentary vote two weeks ago, after a court dissolved the former government, seen as close to Thaksin.
He now faces crowds of red-clad opponents on the streets who say they object to his route to power.He now faces crowds of red-clad opponents on the streets who say they object to his route to power.
DelayDelay
"The government has informed me that they are co-ordinating with protesters and have asked me to delay," said house speaker Chai Chidchob. Monday's speech was at first repeatedly delayed and has now been put off until Tuesday, senior parliamentary sources said. class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7802848.stm">In pictures: Protests thwart Thai PM
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7802848.stm">In pictures: Protests thwart Thai PM He said the speech - originally due to start at 0930 (0230 GMT) - had been put back for a second time from 1400 to 1700. It will depend on lawmakers getting safe passage to parliament. Protest organisers have insisted they will not prevent members of parliament entering the building, but have dared them to leave their vehicles and face protesters as they do.
It could be further delayed until Tuesday or even into the new year, he said, if the protests did not subside. But the Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugusban has said this is too dangerous.
Under the constitution, a new Thai government cannot start work officially until it delivers its policy statement to a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate. This speech was expected to outline measures to try to boost Thailand's ailing economy. Some reports suggest that if the protests continue the speech - which was expected to outline measures to try to boost Thailand's ailing economy - could even be put off until the new year.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugusban said the government was negotiating with protesters to allow cars past the blockade and into parliament. Under the constitution, a new Thai government cannot start work officially until it delivers its policy statement to a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate.
"We will not allow government MPs to walk into parliament. It's too dangerous," he said.
Organisers of the protests said they would not prevent parliamentarians from entering the building, but dared them to leave their cars and walk between lines of protesters.
No mandate?No mandate?
Mr Abhisit was elected by parliament after a court required the dissolution of parties in the ruling coalition.Mr Abhisit was elected by parliament after a court required the dissolution of parties in the ruling coalition.
He has tried to distance himself from an earlier wave of protests against the previous Thaksin-backed government which had forced the closure of the country's airports for eight days.He has tried to distance himself from an earlier wave of protests against the previous Thaksin-backed government which had forced the closure of the country's airports for eight days.
But members of his new government, including the foreign minister, took part in those protests.But members of his new government, including the foreign minister, took part in those protests.
Those yellow-clad protesters are called the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy or PAD.Those yellow-clad protesters are called the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy or PAD.
The new wave of protests, led by red-clad Thaksin loyalists, are called the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship.The new wave of protests, led by red-clad Thaksin loyalists, are called the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship.
Slogans on banners included "Abhisit get out, this is a prostitute's government", "We are ready to protect Thaksin", "Give us back real democracy" and "Government of treason".Slogans on banners included "Abhisit get out, this is a prostitute's government", "We are ready to protect Thaksin", "Give us back real democracy" and "Government of treason".
Power struggle
Mr Thaksin was ousted from the prime minister's job in a military coup in 2006, but elections in December 2007 under a new constitution returned his loyalists to power.Mr Thaksin was ousted from the prime minister's job in a military coup in 2006, but elections in December 2007 under a new constitution returned his loyalists to power.
Several governments led by his supporters collapsed under the weight of court rulings against them, PAD protests and a defection within parliament by a formerly pro-Thaksin faction.Several governments led by his supporters collapsed under the weight of court rulings against them, PAD protests and a defection within parliament by a formerly pro-Thaksin faction.
Now his supporters are on the streets in moves to blockade parliament reminiscent of the protests mounted against them when they were in power.Now his supporters are on the streets in moves to blockade parliament reminiscent of the protests mounted against them when they were in power.
Mr Abhisit had promised a government of reconciliation and economic recovery.Mr Abhisit had promised a government of reconciliation and economic recovery.
New Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said last week that the country's export-driven economy would shrink in the fourth quarter and barely grow in 2009.New Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said last week that the country's export-driven economy would shrink in the fourth quarter and barely grow in 2009.
Mr Korn, an Oxford-trained former investment banker, projected 2009 growth at between 0% and 2%, the worst in a decade.Mr Korn, an Oxford-trained former investment banker, projected 2009 growth at between 0% and 2%, the worst in a decade.
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