|
BANGKOK - THAILAND'S new premier Abhisit Vejjajiva will deliver his maiden policy speech at the foreign ministry on Tuesday after riot police failed to clear protesters from outside parliament, a minister said.
Despite repeated efforts by hundreds of police officers armed with shields to push open the gates and create a path for lawmakers to enter the building, the red-shirted crowd calling for new elections refused to budge.
They are loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra, the premier ousted in a 2006 coup, and say Mr Abhisit's government is not legitimate as he came to power after the Thaksin-linked former ruling party was dissolved by a court early this month.
'The government intended to deliver a policy statement but this was prevented by protesters,' said Mr Satit Wonghnongtaey, a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office.
'So the government has decided to move the venue to the foreign ministry, which parliament has confirmed is legal. We have already informed coalition partners and the meeting will start as soon as we have a quorum.'
The policy speech was due to take place on Monday morning in Bangkok's parliament building, but was postponed throughout the day as negotiations with protesters continued, before finally being pushed back to Tuesday.
Mr Abhisit won a parliamentary vote two weeks ago after a court dissolved the previous People Power Party-led government - a move that ended six months of crippling protests by an anti-Thaksin group. -- AFP
| 
