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Thai protests cancel Asian summit Thai protests cancel Asian summit
(10 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.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.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
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.
See a map of the summit venue
It is a humiliation for the government, our correspondent says.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."
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'
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.
I have met with other Asean leaders and have told them my decision and they all understood the situation Abhisit Vejjajiva Thai Prime Minister
But as the talks were 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. Moments later, Prime Minister Abhisit said in a statement broadcast live on TV:
"The government has decided to postpone the Asean summit meeting. I have met with other Asean leaders and have told them my decision and they all understood the situation.
"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 on Saturday, riot police separated the opposition protesters from hundreds of blue-shirted government supporters.Earlier on Saturday, riot police separated the opposition protesters from hundreds of blue-shirted government supporters.
Police had to separate blue- and red-shirted protesters
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
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?"
'Puppet' charge
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 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
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 VENUELOCATION OF PROTESTERS OUTSIDE SUMMIT VENUE
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