PATTAYA, THAILAND // More than 1,000 anti-government protesters smashed through the glass doors of a convention centre where leaders of 16 Asian countries were scheduled to meet today, soon after their demonstration forced organisers to postpone morning meetings. It was not immediately clear if the redshirted protesters, who want to unseat the Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, were near any of the delegates or leaders.
The chaos dealt a major blow to Mr Vejjajiva, who has been trying to project an image of calm and normality since taking power in a parliamentary vote four months ago after a court dissolved the previous government. Some protesters overturned coffee tables while others blew horns, waved Thai flags and screamed, "Abhisit get out". "We want to tell Abhisit himself that this meeting cannot go on," said protest leader Arisman Pongreungrong. Earlier, Thai officials said all morning meetings had been postponed for "reasons of safety". Leaders would decide together over lunch whether meetings would take place in the afternoon.
This morning, demonstrators kept some delegates from leaving their nearby hotels, causing the cancellation of a breakfast meeting of the foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea. Then the 2,000 protesters moved to the hilltop venue where the summit was to be held - the second day they have massed there. The protesters clashed with a group of rival demonstrators, many of whom were dressed in navy blue or black, some wearing masks, about a half-mile from the summit venue. The two sides threw rocks and smoke bombs at each other about two miles from the venue.
Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said two or three people were injured in the clashes and that authorities were investigating reports of shots fired and an explosion. "The safety of the leaders is the most important to us, this is why we made a decision to slightly delay the meeting until we get a confirmation from all parties concerned that safety and order is in place," Mr Wattanayagorn said. Mr Wattanayagorn said protesters have been warned that "very tough standards will be applied to them very soon".
* AP
