PAD declares victory after House session postponed

Tense calm descended on Bangkok after security forces allowed several thousand PAD protesters to march from Government House to Parliament.

While threats of violence have subsided for today, there remain high uncertainties as the protest will continue for a few days at least. Chai has until November 28 to call for a meeting, probably to consider a charter amendment which the protesters believed would pave the way for ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra to return to power, he said.

|The anti-government protesters marched from the Government House where they have occupied for months to the Parliament on Monday morning and blocked all access to the venue.

They said they did not want the Parliament to consider the charter amendment as it would allow Thaksin to come back. Police gave them passage after protest leaders promised they would not enter the parliamentary compound.

House Speaker Chai made a phone call to the press room to formally announce the cancellation of the joint House-Senate sitting. He said the meeting would be postponed until the situation improves.

He said the meeting would be held only after the PAD could reach an agreement with the government.

Apart from the Paliament, hundreds of the protesters also blocked all access at the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Finance Ministry.

Pipob Thongchai, a PAD leader, reiterated that the protesters will resort to violence at any place. PAD leaders will consider later whether to move the protesters at those places back to the Government House.

A statement from the PAD is expected to be announced late this afternoon.