India-ASEAN summit cancelled after violent protests

New Delhi, Apr 11 (ANI): The India-ASEAN summit scheduled for Saturday has been delayed following anti-government demonstrations in Thailand.

The protestors reportedly broke into the venue of the resort in Pattaya, where leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) were due to meet.

Thousands of red-shirted supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra smashed into the media centre adjacent to the resort's conference hall.

Concerned over the safety of leaders from the ten ASEAN member countries and its dialogue partners, Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced a state of emergency in Pattaya.

Thailand has been in turmoil, with the opposition demanding fresh elections.

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, representing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had reached Pattaya on Friday to attend the summit.

Nath was to discuss the progress of signing the free-trade agreement between New Delhi and the 10-nation South East Asian trading bloc.

Nath was also to participate in the East-Asia summit. (ANI)