Thailand's Parliament has postponed a joint session of Parliament as thousands of anti-Government protesters surrounded the building in a bid to unseat the Government.Samart Kaewmeechai, the deputy house speaker, said the Monday meeting was canceled because members of Parliament could not access the building.Thousands of protesters from the People’s Alliance for Democracy marched to Parliament at sunrise in a rally billed as their final bid to oust the Government. Protesters have been camped at the prime minister’s office compound for three months.The parliamentary session was not immediately rescheduled.Riot police barricaded the building to prevent violence at a rally that demonstrators have billed their final bid to oust the administration.The demonstrators were flanked by their own guards, who were armed with poles, clubs and metal rods. Many protesters carried masks and swimming goggles to protect against tear gas, which police have said they would use to maintain order.The demonstrators initially called the protest to block Parliament from debating a bill to rewrite the Constitution. That contentious issue was dropped at the last minute and lawmakers will instead debate legislation related to an upcoming regional summit.Protesters have occupied the grounds of the Prime Minister’s office for three months in their effort to topple the Government, which they allege is the puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.They accuse Thaksin, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup, of corruption and abuse of power, and claim the constitution bill before the legislature would help him stage a comeback.“I’m very scared. But it is time that we win this,” said a protester, Wimon Sricarak. “We have been attacked, our friends have died, and all because they want to protect Thaksin.”Two small blasts went off before dawn Monday near the offices of a key protest leader, said police Sgt.Theerapong Rakjit. No injuries were reported. But a Thai demonstrator injured in a grenade attack at an anti-Government protest site in Bangkok in the weekend has died in hospital. A forensic official at Bangkok’s Ramathibodi Hospital said that 21-year-old Anupong Samerpak — a volunteer guard for the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest movement — died on Sunday afternoon.The last time the group marched on Parliament, police efforts to disperse them resulted in running street battles. Two people were killed in the October 7 violence and hundreds injured.The fracas also disturbed animals at Dusit Zoo across the road, and zookeepers were forced to comfort highly strung animals.Police said 2,400 policemen would be stationed outside Parliament, which is about half a mile from the prime minister’s compound. “Police and soldiers will not be armed with lethal weapons, only shields and batons,” Government spokesman Nattawut Sai-gua said.The protest alliance also says it is committed to nonviolence, though forays outside its stronghold are usually led by tough young men, who carry homemade weapons such as iron rods — and in some cases handguns — and who have won a reputation for aggressive behaviour. AP
