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Thai protesters maintain vigil Thai PM switches venue for speech
(about 2 hours later)
Crowds opposed to Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva are rallying outside parliament for a second day. Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has begun delivering his maiden policy speech, after protesters forced him to switch venue.
Mr Abhisit was due to make his first policy speech on Monday, but had to abandon the attempt. After parliament was blockaded for two days running, Mr Abhisit assembled a quorum of MPs at the foreign ministry.
Demonstrators loyal to the ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra blockaded the building. His speech outlined "urgent measures" for "stimulating the economy".
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the police had been ordered not to use violence to clear the protesters and allow Mr Abhisit access. Demonstrators loyal to the ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had massed outside the gates to parliament.
"We don't want to start our government's work with violence," he said. Under the country's 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.
Ministers argued that the sitting did not have to take place at parliament itself. Some MPs hurried from the building to the nearby Foreign Ministry to hear the speech.
It was a less dignified start than Mr Abhisit had been hoping for his new administration, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
No violence
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the police had been ordered not to use excessive force to clear the protesters.
Abhisit had to make his speech at the foreign ministry"We don't want to start our government's work with violence," he said.
But one of the leaders of the protest said that Mr Abhisit was free to enter the building.But one of the leaders of the protest said that Mr Abhisit was free to enter the building.
"We still insist that the PM and parliament members should walk through us to get in. We guarantee their safety. By walking in, we can have a talk with him," Chakrapob Penkhair told the Associated Press news agency."We still insist that the PM and parliament members should walk through us to get in. We guarantee their safety. By walking in, we can have a talk with him," Chakrapob Penkhair told the Associated Press news agency.
Constitutional requirement 'No mandate'
Protesters say Mr Abhisit - the third prime minister in four months - has no mandate to lead and should resign.Protesters say Mr Abhisit - the third prime minister in four months - has no mandate to lead and should resign.
Abhisit must make his speech before parliament can start workHe was elected in a parliamentary vote two weeks ago, after a court dissolved the former government, seen as close to Mr Thaksin. He was elected in a parliamentary vote two weeks ago, after a court dissolved the former government, seen as close to Mr Thaksin.
He now faces crowds of red-clad opponents on the streets who say they object to his route to power. He 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.
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.
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.
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.Several governments led by his supporters collapsed under the weight of court rulings against them.
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.