Thailand declares emergency, cancels Asian summit
The Associated Press, Pattaya, Thailand | Sat, 04/11/2009 2:40 PM
Thailand has declared a state of emergency in the town where a summit of Asian leaders was supposed to be held after protesters stormed the venue. The meeting has been canceled.
The decree also covers the area surrounding Pattaya. It gives the military the right to restore order, allows authorities to suspend civil liberties, bans public gatherings of more than five people and bars the media from reporting news that "causes panic."
Thai Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva declared the emergency Saturday after protesters demanding his ouster smashed the glass doors of the summit venue and swarmed the building.
Government spokesman Supachai Jaisamuth said the situation was "too violent" for the meeting to take place.
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