Thai cabinet delivers government policy address despite protests
7/10/2008 16:05
Thailand's new Cabinet today began delivering government policy address
before the Parliament in a two-chamber joint session despite that
anti-government protesters continued a besiege around the parliament compound in
an attempt to block the session.
Somchai Wongsawat, the Prime Minister and
Defense Minister, began delivering the policy address after President of
Parliament Chai Chidchob announced the session to kick off at around 10:45 a.
m.(0345 GMT).
Of the 320 senators and members of parliaments present at the
session, 310 voted to agree, which met a 50-percent-quorum, on proceeding with
the scheduled session for a government policy address and a following debate by
Senators and House Representatives.
Somchai outlined the one-year
initial-stage policy platform and a three-year long-term plan, with the priority
being "reinstall national unity."
Meanwhile, thousands of anti-government
protesters led by People 's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who besieged the
Parliament and Metropolitan Police Bureau compound continued
demonstrations.
Police in early morning shot tear gas into the protesters in
front of the Parliament to open access for the MPs and ministers to get into the
compound. After the policy address began, protesters and police at the
Metropolitan Police Bureau were seen firing tear gas at each
other.
Xinhua
|
