Thai protesters target Asia summit

By Martin Petty

PATTAYA, Thailand (Reuters) - Thai troops repelled anti-government protesters at a resort hosting an Asian summit on Friday as leaders began arriving for a meeting meant to focus on the global financial crisis.

Hundreds of troops guarded an entrance to the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya, about 150 km (90 miles) south of Bangkok, and fended off at least one attempt to break through.

But tensions eased considerably after an official from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came out of the hotel to accept a letter from a protest leader. They had threatened to storm the summit venue if their demand was not met.

"We don't want any Thai officials to accept this letter because this is an illegitimate government and it was not elected by the people," protest leader Arismun Tongreungrong told reporters.

Several thousand "red-shirt" supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had marched with little police resistance to the summit venue to demand the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

They say his government is illegitimate because he came to power in December through parliamentary defections allegedly engineered by the army.

The protesters began retreating from the hotel complex after delivering their letter, but said they would be back on Saturday, when prime ministers and other top leaders from 16 Asian countries are scheduled to meet.

"We have resolved the issue and there won't be any more disruption, and I think that's the expectation of the demonstrators," ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said.