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By The Nation
Asean meeting is besieged by at least 2,000 pro-Thaksin protesters who are now reportedly at the gate of the Royal Cliff Hotel and within 200 metres of the convention hall.
Deput Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was seen heading to see protest leaders in order to negotiate, reporters at the scene said.
However, no negotiation has taken place and Suthep was later seen retreating into the hotel.
Protester leaders later told reporters that they would pave the way for foreign leaders to get in and out of the hotel. The summit begins this evening with a working dinner.
Earlier in the morning, around 100 Thai anti-government protesters broke through an army cordon and marched towards the hotel hosting a summit of Asian leaders and their dialogue partners here Friday.
The main crowd briefly clashed with police before some forced their way through a group of soldiers deployed about 500 metres (yards) from the luxury hotel.
A police deploying at an entrance of the hotel said that there were three police cordons to prevent the protesters from reaching the hotel.
As of noon, the protesters could break through the first cordon and are about 500 metres away from the hotel's entrance, police said.
Television footage later showed riot police and red-shirted protesters angrily pushing each other on a road leading to the hotel.
The protesters shouted slogans against current premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, demanding him to step down and dissolve the House.
"Abhisit get out! If this government does not accept our demands we will not go home," shouted the protesters.
In Bangkok, traffic turmoil continued with protesters continuing to occupy the Victory Monument. Concerns have been growing about several hospitals in the area. The protest has left severe constrainsts for patients, visitors and transport of medical supplies.
Protesters have blocked Sukhumvit 71 and a Vibhavadi highway-Suthisarn Road junction. Protesters have retreated from the Democracy Monument to the main rally site in front of Government House.
Police reported heavy traffic jams on several roads but the situation has not been as severe as Thursday since the government declared Friday a national holiday to counter the red shirts' aggression.
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