Asean Summit to go ahead despite Thai protests : Thai PM

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Wednesday that a key summit of Asian leaders will take place as planned this week.

Asean leaders and their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea, India and Australia and New Zealand will meet in Pattaya for the three-day meeting, starting on Friday.

Referring to an attack on his motorcade in Pattaya on Tuesday, Abhisit said the incident will not affect the Asean summit. All of the leaders still confirm that they will attend the meeting."

Abhisit said there would be a security review following the clashes in Pattaya, which saw him and his cabinet trapped inside a hotel for several hours before dozens of protesters smashed the window of his car as he was driven away.

"Pattaya police need to improve their work as they were lax yesterday. All concerned parties are reviewing security as the Asian summit is approaching," he said.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Wednesday reassured safety for Asean leaders and dialogue partners in the Summit late this week in Pattaya.

"All 15 leaders who are guests of Thailand would be provided with full security guard for their safety," Kasit told a press briefing.

The minister called an urgent briefing on Wednesday when the red shirted protesters staged their mass rally in the capital to topple the government.

"It is the responsibility of Thai people to provide security to the guest leaders," he said.