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| Thai protest breaks summit cordon | Thai protest breaks summit cordon |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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, calling for the prime minister to step down, scuffled with riot police to reach the luxury hotel in the resort town of Pattaya. | 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. |
| PM Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed the meeting, which will focus on ways to tackle the financial crisis, would go ahead. | PM Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed the meeting, which will focus on ways to tackle the financial crisis, would go ahead. |
| The rally follows three days of huge protests in the capital Bangkok. | The rally follows three days of huge protests in the capital Bangkok. |
| 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. | 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 2,000 red-shirted supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a coup in 2006, besieged the venue in Pattaya. | 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. | "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 people managed to break through police lines to get within 50m of the hotel. | At least 200 people managed to break through police lines to get within 50m of the hotel. |
| Hundreds of soldiers were deployed to deal with the protesters | Hundreds of soldiers were deployed to deal with the protesters |
| Scuffles with about 500 soldiers followed, and the protesters were forced back. | Scuffles with about 500 soldiers followed, and the protesters were forced back. |
| Protest leader Arismun Pongreungrong said the intention was not to stop the summit but to make the point that "this government is illegitimate". | Protest leader Arismun Pongreungrong said the intention was not to stop the summit but to make the point that "this government is illegitimate". |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the move was calculated to embarrass Mr Abhisit. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the move was calculated to embarrass Mr Abhisit. |
| Painting the protest red Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva | Painting the protest red Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| They say he took office illegitimately and should resign so fresh elections can be held. | 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. |
| Analysts say his hosting of the summit for the next three days has raised the stakes. | Analysts say his hosting of the summit for the next three days has raised the stakes. |
| LOCATION OF PROTESTERS OUTSIDE SUMMIT VENUE | |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Are you in Thailand? Have you taken part in protests? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Thailand? Have you taken part in protests? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |