Bangkok under state of emergency
Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok and surrounding areas, a day after protests cancelled a major Asian summit.
The announcement came as a group anti-government protesters broke into the interior ministry.
Soldiers fired warning shots into the air to deter protesters, but made no attempt to stop them. One report said PM Abhisit Vejjajiva escaped by car.
The leader of the protests was arrested after the PM vowed to prosecute them.
Demonstrators loyal to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been calling for Mr Abhisit's resignation.
Protest leader Arisman Pongruengrong was arrested after returning to his home in Bangkok on Sunday.
A police spokesman said he was co-operating with the authorities.
"There will be further arrests, but right now the police are gathering evidence," the spokesman added.
Correspondents say the storming of the Pattaya conference centre was deeply embarrassing for Mr Abhisit.
There was little resistance from the security forces.
The tactics of the pro-Thaksin activists mirror those of their royalist rivals last year: they too paralysed government activity by targeting key venues.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there is no question the pro-Thaksin protesters broke the law.
But, our correspondent adds, the problem is that Mr Abhisit rode to power on the back of protests that were just as illegal, and the PM may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him.
'We have won'
"The next three to four days will be crucial for the government to prove itself in restoring peace and order in the country," Mr Abhisit said on TV on Sunday.
"The government will take action against those who were involved in the incident yesterday without bias."
Another protest leader, Jakrapob Penkair, said in Bangkok that the movement against Mr Abhisit had won a victory.
"We have won, we have stopped them from holding a summit," he said.
"But we have not achieved our goal yet. We will continue to protest in Bangkok until Abhisit resigns."
Pre-summit street protests in the capital this week drew up to 100,000 people.
Mr Thaksin himself, who remains in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has welcomed the protest in Pattaya.
"I thank the Red Shirts in Pattaya who showed strength," he told a rally of supporters in Bangkok by telephone late on Saturday.
"In the next few days we will see real change."
Officials say months of turmoil have lost the country $6bn in tourist revenue, just as the economy is taking a hit from collapsing exports.
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Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok and surrounding areas, a day after protests cancelled a major Asian summit.
The announcement came as a group anti-government protesters broke into the interior ministry.
Soldiers fired warning shots into the air to deter protesters, but made no attempt to stop them. One report said PM Abhisit Vejjajiva escaped by car.
The leader of the protests was arrested after the PM vowed to prosecute them.
Demonstrators loyal to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been calling for Mr Abhisit's resignation.
Protest leader Arisman Pongruengrong was arrested after returning to his home in Bangkok on Sunday.
A police spokesman said he was co-operating with the authorities.
"There will be further arrests, but right now the police are gathering evidence," the spokesman added.
Correspondents say the storming of the Pattaya conference centre was deeply embarrassing for Mr Abhisit.
There was little resistance from the security forces.
The tactics of the pro-Thaksin activists mirror those of their royalist rivals last year: they too paralysed government activity by targeting key venues.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there is no question the pro-Thaksin protesters broke the law.
But, our correspondent adds, the problem is that Mr Abhisit rode to power on the back of protests that were just as illegal, and the PM may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him.
'We have won'
"The next three to four days will be crucial for the government to prove itself in restoring peace and order in the country," Mr Abhisit said on TV on Sunday.
"The government will take action against those who were involved in the incident yesterday without bias."
Another protest leader, Jakrapob Penkair, said in Bangkok that the movement against Mr Abhisit had won a victory.
"We have won, we have stopped them from holding a summit," he said.
"But we have not achieved our goal yet. We will continue to protest in Bangkok until Abhisit resigns."
Pre-summit street protests in the capital this week drew up to 100,000 people.
Mr Thaksin himself, who remains in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has welcomed the protest in Pattaya.
"I thank the Red Shirts in Pattaya who showed strength," he told a rally of supporters in Bangkok by telephone late on Saturday.
"In the next few days we will see real change."
Officials say months of turmoil have lost the country $6bn in tourist revenue, just as the economy is taking a hit from collapsing exports.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk , text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here .
Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ic/7995606.stm
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