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Thai protest breaks summit cordon Thai protest breaks summit cordon
(about 1 hour later)
Anti-government protesters in Thailand have broken through a police cordon to reach the venue for a summit of Asian leaders in the resort town of Pattaya. Anti-government protesters in Thailand broke through a police cordon, laying siege to the venue that will host a summit of Asian leaders this weekend.
Around 200 protesters, some on scooters and in pick-up trucks, pushed past riot police lines to reach the luxury hotel which will host this weekend's summit. Around 200 protesters, calling for the prime minister to step down, scuffled with riot police to reach the luxury hotel in the resort town of Pattaya.
They are demanding the government of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down. PM Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed the meeting, which will focus on ways to tackle the financial crisis, would go ahead.
It follows three days of huge protests in the capital Bangkok. The rally follows three days of huge protests in the capital Bangkok.
Mr Abhisit has been forced to declare Friday a public holiday to help cope with the protests. Demonstrators have managed to bring much of the capital to a halt by blocking roads there. The government declared Friday a public holiday in an effort to deal with the disruption.
'All means necessary''All means necessary'
Around 1,000 red-shirted supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a coup in 2006, are in Pattaya and are promising to bring in more from their main rally in Bangkok. Around 2,000 red-shirted supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a coup in 2006, besieged the venue in Pattaya.
"Abhisit get out! If this government does not accept our demands we will not go home," the protesters shouted.
See a map of the summit venue See a map of the summit venue
At least 200 were reported to have broken through police lines to get within 50m of the hotel, which is preparing to welcome 16 leaders for the Asean summit. At least 200 people managed to break through police lines to get within 50m of the hotel.
Police ready for demonstrations at the Asean summit in Pattaya, Thailand Hundreds of soldiers were deployed to deal with the protesters
"Abhisit get out! If this government does not accept our demands we will not go home," the protesters shouted. Scuffles with about 500 soldiers followed, and the protesters were forced back.
There was no violence, but hundreds of soldiers in riot gear were seen marching towards the venue. Protest leader Arismun Pongreungrong said the intention was not to stop the summit but to make the point that "this government is illegitimate".
A police commander said the protesters had been asked to leave "the restricted area". The crowd dispersed after a protest letter was delivered to the summit, but they vowed to return on Saturday unless the Thai prime minister stepped down.
"If we cannot negotiate with them we will use all means necessary to open the road (to the hotel) for the leaders and maintain international standards," Police Major General Pramote Patumwong told the AFP news agency. The prime minister later told a news conference: "We will ensure that the meeting will proceed smoothly. I would like to reiterate that we can provide security."
Protest leader Arismun Pongreungrong earlier told AFP: "We will go peacefully to the hotel, we will not damage anything, any government property. But we have to show the world that this government is not democratic." The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the move was calculated to embarrass Mr Abhisit.
The comment was a reference to the failure of Mr Abhisit's Democratic Party to win elections. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7990181.stm"> Painting the protest red class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7780309.stm"> Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva
He came to power when a court ruled the previous government led by allies of Mr Thaksin was illegal, after anti-Thaksin protesters had shut down the country's airport for eight days in December. The summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has already been postponed and relocated several times because of Thailand's political turmoil.
Mr Abhisit came to power in December. He formed a coalition after a court ruled the previous government, led by allies of Mr Thaksin, was illegal.
The move came after anti-Thaksin protesters shut down the country's airport for eight days and besieged government offices.
Mr Thaksin's supporters in the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) accuse Mr Abhisit's government of being a puppet of the military.Mr Thaksin's supporters in the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) accuse Mr Abhisit's government of being a puppet of the military.
High stakes They say he took office illegitimately and should resign so fresh elections can be held.
Mr Abhisit has refused demands to quit, and said protesters were free to express their views so long as they were peaceful.Mr Abhisit has refused demands to quit, and said protesters were free to express their views so long as they were peaceful.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7990181.stm"> Painting the protest red class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7780309.stm"> Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva Analysts say his hosting of the summit for the next three days has raised the stakes.
But his hosting of a regional summit for the next three days has raised the stakes.
The summit brings together the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
"Nothing untoward will happen to the leaders. We will make sure of that. We have to make sure the meeting can go on," said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban earlier.
This weekend's summit will focus on regional responses to the worsening global economy and will hear briefings from the heads of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank.
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