Thai Cabinet, House meetings canceled under siege by red-shirts
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Both the scheduled House meeting and the ongoing Cabinet meeting were canceled Wednesday as the Parliament House was besieged by the anti-government red-shirted protesters.
In the latest development, the "red-shirts" began to disperse from the compound and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban, who used to be stuck inside the Parliament House, has already arrived at the 11th Infantry Regiment at about 1:30 p.m.
The "red-shirts", who have been surrounding the compound since the morning and stopped anybody from getting out, once broke into the yard at about 12:20 a.m. and most of them stepped back to the outside following the request of their co-leader Jatuporn Promphan.
A leader of the demonstrating "red-shirts" gave an ultimatum at about 11:55 a.m., demanding the security forces to "open the gate in 19 minutes", or else they will break into the compound.
Some MPs climbed over the wall and got out of the compound while Thai media reported Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey and the acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn were picked up by a helicopter.
Earlier another "red-shirts" leader Arisman Pongruangrong demanded Suthep to come out of the building and talk to them.
The "red-shirts" also snatched two loaded guns from the police outside the Parliament House compound, according to the Xinhua reporter at the site.
Arisman also said they have found two grenades and required the government to give an explanation within one hour, saying that's the reason that they broke into the compound.
Responding to him, Metropolitan Police Division 1 Commander Police Major General Wichai Sangprapai said the police is conducting investigation and promised to explain in half an hour.
Chai Chidchob, Speaker of the House of Representatives, had announced to cancel the scheduled House meeting at about 11:20 a.m. facing the siege.
Earlier the Cabinet meeting, held in the Parliament House, was abruptly stopped as a horde of "red-shirts" surrounded the compound.
Abhisit has left the Parliament House before the protesters' arrival while Suthep, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security affairs, was still inside.
More than 1,000 security forces are deployed at the compound to maintain law and order, as more and more "red-shirts" are arriving. Dozens of police vehicles arrived to strengthen the security there.
The Cabinet had resolved in the first-half of its interrupted meeting to extend the enforcement of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Bangkok and nearby areas to maintain law and order amid the ongoing mass anti-government rally by the "red shirts".
The special security act, which enables the military to help the police in maintaining law and order, has been extended to April 20.
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