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Thai protests disrupt Asia summit Thai protests cancel Asian summit
(30 minutes later)
Anti-government protesters in Thailand have smashed into the venue of a Asian summit in the resort of Pattaya. A summit of Asian leaders in Thailand has been postponed after anti-government protesters smashed their way into the venue in the Pattaya resort.
A Thai government government spokesman said leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) decided to postpone the talks. The government has announced a state of emergency in Pattaya where leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) were due to meet.
It is not clear so far whether only the Saturday session or the whole two-day summit has been cancelled.
Thailand has been in turmoil for months, following the removal of allies of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.Thailand has been in turmoil for months, following the removal of allies of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mr Thaksin's supporters have been demanding early elections.
See a map of the summit venue See a map of the summit venue
Some 2,000 of the red-shirted protesters, who back Mr Thaksin, had arrived in the beach resort on Friday. Some 2,000 of the red-shirted protesters had arrived in the beach resort on Friday.
This week also saw huge protests by the anti-government camp in the capital, Bangkok.This week also saw huge protests by the anti-government camp in the capital, Bangkok.
Hundreds of blue-shirted government supporters turned upHundreds of blue-shirted government supporters turned up
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had vowed the Asean summit, called to discuss the global financial crisis, would go ahead.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had vowed the Asean summit, called to discuss the global financial crisis, would go ahead.
It was due to get into full swing on Saturday before concluding on Sunday with a summit due to include India, Australia and New Zealand.It was due to get into full swing on Saturday before concluding on Sunday with a summit due to include India, Australia and New Zealand.
The new government has been left embarrassed by the ease with which its opponents have been able to disrupt such a high-level gathering, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports.The new government has been left embarrassed by the ease with which its opponents have been able to disrupt such a high-level gathering, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports.
'Lorries and taxis''Lorries and taxis'
Riot police reportedly intervened to separate the protesters from hundreds of blue-shirted government supporters.Riot police reportedly intervened to separate the protesters from hundreds of blue-shirted government supporters.
Some government supporters were armed with sticks and bottles and some of the protesters could be seen wielding sticks and at least one knife.Some government supporters were armed with sticks and bottles and some of the protesters could be seen wielding sticks and at least one knife.
SUMMIT SCHEDULE SATURDAY 0900 (0200 GMT): China-Asean summit (postponed) 1030: S Korea-Asean summit 1200: Japan-Asean summit1430: Asean Plus Three summit1615: India-Asean summitfact here1730: Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam Plus Japan summit The Asean-China summit has been postponed because of the attempts to block the arrangement of the leaders Panitan Wattanayagorn Government spokesman
Deputy Thai government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the government was investigating unconfirmed reports that three people were shot and wounded in the clashes.Deputy Thai government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the government was investigating unconfirmed reports that three people were shot and wounded in the clashes.
"There is an informal report of two or three injured, they are blue shirts," he said."There is an informal report of two or three injured, they are blue shirts," he said.
"We don't know exactly but maybe the bullets came from the red shirts?""We don't know exactly but maybe the bullets came from the red shirts?"
Witnesses say the protesters used taxis and at least two large lorries to block the talks venue.Witnesses say the protesters used taxis and at least two large lorries to block the talks venue.
The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea had to cancel a trilateral session because of the disturbances. Another meeting - between China and Asean - was postponed after demonstrators prevented the leaders from leaving their hotels.
"The Asean-China summit has been postponed because of the attempts to block the arrangement of the leaders," Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told reporters."The Asean-China summit has been postponed because of the attempts to block the arrangement of the leaders," Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told reporters.
Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone was unable to enter the talks venue because protesters were blocking the entrance.
An unnamed Japanese foreign ministry official told Reuters news agency that while the trilateral meeting had been cancelled, the Japanese foreign minister did speak by telephone separately with his South Korean and Chinese counterparts.
A Chinese official told AFP news agency that the ministers had waited for an hour before deciding to cancel.
The meeting would have been the foreign ministers' first opportunity to discuss last Sunday's launch of a North Korean rocket, widely viewed as a long-range missile test.The meeting would have been the foreign ministers' first opportunity to discuss last Sunday's launch of a North Korean rocket, widely viewed as a long-range missile test.
Resignation demand 'Puppet' charge
The Asean summit has already been postponed and relocated several times because of Thailand's political turmoil.The Asean summit 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.
LOCATION OF PROTESTERS OUTSIDE SUMMIT VENUELOCATION OF PROTESTERS OUTSIDE SUMMIT VENUE
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