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Thai PM switches venue for speech Thai PM switches venue for speech
(about 2 hours later)
Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has delivered his maiden policy speech, after protesters forced him to switch venue.Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has delivered his maiden policy speech, after protesters forced him to switch venue.
After parliament was blockaded for two days running, Mr Abhisit assembled a quorum of MPs at the foreign ministry.After parliament was blockaded for two days running, Mr Abhisit assembled a quorum of MPs at the foreign ministry.
His speech outlined "urgent measures" for "stimulating the economy".His speech outlined "urgent measures" for "stimulating the economy".
Demonstrators loyal to the ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had massed outside the gates of parliament to protest.Demonstrators loyal to the ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had massed outside the gates of parliament to protest.
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.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. Ministers argued that the sitting did not have to take place at parliament itself, and so MPs hurried from the building to the nearby Foreign Ministry to hear the speech.
Mr Abhisit promised he would be a healing figure who would put reconciliation between Thailand's bitterly opposed political camps at the top of his list of priorities.Mr Abhisit promised he would be a healing figure who would put reconciliation between Thailand's bitterly opposed political camps at the top of his list of priorities.
He hopes to answer his critics with policies that will have an immediate impact on Thailand's rapidly deteriorating economic climate.He hopes to answer his critics with policies that will have an immediate impact on Thailand's rapidly deteriorating economic climate.
He has already announced a $8.6bn (£5.9bn) package of government spending - much of that, he said, would be directed to the poor rural areas of the north and north-east, where support for the ousted government remains strong. He has already announced a $8.6bn (£5.9bn) package of government spending - much of that, he said, would be directed to the poor rural areas of the north and north-east, where support for the ousted government and former prime minister Thaksin remains strong.
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 violenceNo violence
It was a less dignified start than Mr Abhisit had been hoping for his new administration, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the police had been ordered not to use excessive force to clear the protesters.Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the police had been ordered not to use excessive force to clear the protesters.
Mr Abhisit had to make his speech at the foreign ministry"We don't want to start our government's work with violence," he said.Mr 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.
'No mandate''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.
He 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, which was seen as close to Mr Thaksin.
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. Mr Thaksin was ousted from the prime minister's job in a military coup in 2006, but elections in December 2007 returned his associates to power.
Several governments led by his supporters collapsed under the weight of court rulings against them. The government that resulted faced a series of problems - including months of demonstrations against them by anti-Thaksin protesters.
Now his supporters are on the streets in moves to blockade parliament reminiscent of the protests mounted against them when they were in power. In addition, several prime ministers were forced to step down under the weight of unfavourable court rulings against them.
Now Mr Thaksin's supporters are on the streets in moves to blockade parliament reminiscent of the protests mounted against them when they were in power.