A group of red shirt anti-government protesters marched on the Thai parliament earlier today. A number of red shirts were able to breach security and enter the grounds of parliament although there were no reports of violence. With security breached and red shirts blocking some entrances to the compound, the decision was taken to cancel the session of parliament.
The chaotic scenes will heap further pressure on Thailand’s prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva. The government has denied reports that Abhisit does not have the support of Thailand’s army chief, Anupong Paojinda. The Thai media has quoted an army source as saying that Abhisit wanted to use the army to disperse the protesters camped at the Ratchaprasong intersection in central Bangkok. However, army chief Anupong is reported as refusing the request because he didn’t feel the use of force against the red shirts could be justified at this stage.
With the domestic crisis continuing, Abhisit has cancelled his planned visit to the United States where he was scheduled to attend the Nuclear Summit in Washington.
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