Thai government to maintain state of emergency in Bangkok
Last Updated: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:36:00 +1000
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says the state of emergency imposed on Bangkok and five neighboring provinces will be maintained until public order is ''genuinely'' restored.
A state of emergency has been in place across the kingdom since Sunday, after supporters of the ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra initiated violent demonstrations that left two dead and over 120 injured.
The protests have also pushed the prime minister to postpone planned visits to Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Mr Abhisit has held a press conference saying he will remain in Bangkok.
He also said an Asian summit shut down by anti-government protesters last weekend will be rescheduled with new dates to be decided within days.
He admitted security measures were too lax at the meeting held in the resort town of Pattaya east of Bangkok, where hundreds of security forces did little to halt the rampaging demonstrators.
