Amid Protests, Asian Summit Is Canceled

By THOMAS FULLER
New York Times

PATTAYA, Thailand — A summit meeting of East Asian leaders intended to address the economic crisis and regional issues was postponed indefinitely on Saturday after protesters broke into the convention center where the leaders were gathering.

"We have postponed the meeting," Panitan Wattanayagorn, the Thai government spokesman, told Reuters. "We have not yet set a new date."

As images of protesters streaming into the convention center, riding escalators and waving Thai flags were being broadcast, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva appeared on television and said he had declared a state of emergency, Reuters reported. "The task for me and the government is to provide security for the leaders to travel back home safely," he said in a short address.

Columns of military and police units who had rushed to protect the hotel and convention center on Friday could not contain the thousands of protesters who swarmed the streets of this beach resort, about 90 miles east of Bangkok.

“I wish to assure the safety of the leaders,” said Mr. Panitan, who said that some leaders had been advised to stay in their hotel rooms.

(More here.)