Friday, 24 October 2008

Thai premier to attend ASEM in China

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat

PRESS TV
Thu, 23 Oct 2008

Embattled Thai Premier Somchai Wongsawat is headed to China for a summit and talks with his Cambodian counterpart over border disputes.

Somchai, a brother-in-law to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, left Bangkok Thursday to attend the weekend summit of regional and European leaders in Beijing. The White House has described the 45-member Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) as "critically important" on Wednesday.

Somchai, who took over from his predecessor Samak Sundaravej little over a month ago, has been under intense pressure to resign by protesters who say they want a government independent of Thaksin.

Following a deadly crackdown on the protesters, the military has threatened to stage a coup.

Somchai is also scheduled to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss border disputes over the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

On October 15, the border conflict escalated into deadly clashes, in which two Cambodian soldiers were killed and seven Thai troops injured.

Earlier this month, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were injured during sporadic exchange of gunfire.

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