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| Thai protests cancel Asian summit | Thai protests cancel Asian summit |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A summit of Asian leaders in Thailand has been postponed after anti-government protesters broke into the venue in the resort of Pattaya. | A summit of Asian leaders in Thailand has been postponed after anti-government protesters broke into the venue in the resort of Pattaya. |
| The government has declared a state of emergency in Pattaya, and PM Abhisit Vejjajiva said his priority was to ensure the leaders got home safely. | |
| Several leaders from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) have now been airlifted from the area. | |
| Thailand has been in turmoil, with the opposition demanding fresh elections. | Thailand has been in turmoil, with the opposition demanding fresh elections. |
| As the summit was due to get under way in Pattaya, thousands of red-shirted supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra smashed into the media centre adjacent to the conference hall. See a map of the summit venue | As the summit was due to get under way in Pattaya, thousands of red-shirted supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra smashed into the media centre adjacent to the conference hall. See a map of the summit venue |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says Thais have spent months organising the summit, but security around the venue collapsed in a matter of hours as thousands pushed their way through the police cordon. | The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says Thais have spent months organising the summit, but security around the venue collapsed in a matter of hours as thousands pushed their way through the police cordon. |
| It is a humiliation for the government, our correspondent says. | |
| Police had to separate blue- and red-shirted protesters | |
| Mr Abhisit said in a statement broadcast live on TV: "The task for me and the government now is to provide security for the leaders to travel back home safely." | Mr Abhisit said in a statement broadcast live on TV: "The task for me and the government now is to provide security for the leaders to travel back home safely." |
| Earlier, he had vowed the Asean summit, called to discuss the global financial crisis, would go ahead. | Earlier, he had vowed the Asean summit, called to discuss the global financial crisis, would go ahead. |
| The meeting was due to get into full swing on Saturday before concluding on Sunday with a summit due to include India, Australia and New Zealand. | |
| 'Lorries and taxis' | 'Lorries and taxis' |
| Earlier on Saturday, riot police separated the opposition 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. |
| The Asean-China summit has been postponed because of the attempts to block the arrangement of the leaders Panitan Wattanayagorn Government spokesman | 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?" |
| The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea had to cancel a trilateral session because of the disturbances. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 'Puppet' charge | 'Puppet' charge |
| The Asean summit has already been postponed and relocated because of Thailand's political turmoil. | The Asean summit has already been postponed and relocated 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 VENUE | 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 |