ASEAN related summits canceled due to security reason

PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) related summits scheduled on April10-12 have been canceled because of security reason, the Thai government announced here Saturday.

The summits have been postponed to a later date, said Panitan Waltanyakorn, the acting government spokesman. He did not give a specific new date.

Before the announcement of cancellation of summits, the "red-shirted" protesters had broken into the summits venue and the media center, which made the summits impossible.

In the meantime, the Thai government has declared state of emergency in Chonburi province. After the announcement of emergency decree, the protesters began to retreat from the media center and the meeting venue.

The Thai government has gradually taken ASEAN leaders out of the venue with helicopters. Before the cancellation of the summits, leaders of all ASEAN countries had been in the meeting venue.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the Thai government will try its best to guarantee the safe departure of all leaders.