Protests scuttle India-Asean summit for 2nd time; Nath safe

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 11 (PTI) Chaotic anti-government
protests in Thailand Saturday led to postponement of a summit
between India and south Asian trading bloc Asean at the resort
town of Pattaya, even as leaders were airlifted to safety.

An Indian Embassy official in Bangkok told PTI that
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, who was
representing the country at the summit, was safe.

Heads of states of other member countries were also
evacuated to safety, reports said.

Thailand declared a state of emergency after supporters
of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Sginawatra stormed the
summit venue, demanding the resignation of incumbent Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The postponement of the India-Asean summit, the second
time since December 2008, would further delay a free trade
agreement between New Delhi and the 10-nation trading bloc.

Nath, who had stepped in for Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, was also to attend a summit of east Asian countries
(Asean, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New
Zealand) that was to discuss Asia's response to the global
economic crisis, among other things.

Heads of multilateral agencies like World Bank, IMF were
also to participate in these deliberations.

Thailand has been under political unrest since September
2006, when Shinawatra was removed. PTI JB
PMR
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