Abhisit lifts state of emergency скачать в хорошем качестве

Abhisit lifts state of emergency

(24 Apr 2009) SHOTLIST 1. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thai Prime Minister walking to podium 2. Cutaway of media 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thai Prime Minister "It was the intention of the Thai government when we declared a state of emergency that our primary task was to restore law and order. We now believe that we have achieved that and in consultation with all the security officers and those in charge we believe that it is now time that we can lift the state of emergency while retaining order so today the state of emergency has been lifted as of noon." 4. Various of streets of Bangkok 5. Various of police officers guarding at the corner of Government House 6. Wide of road 7. Wide of Abhisit answering local media questions 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thai Prime Minister: "I sent a strong message and invited the opposition into a process of reconciliation with the condition of course that whatever protest whatever freedom of expression being exercised must not involve violence and the opposition agreed." 9. Wide of Abhisit Vejjajiva leaving news conference STORYLINE Thailand's prime minister on Friday lifted a state of emergency that was imposed in the capital following anti-government riots by supporters of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. Abhisit Vejjajiva lifted the emergency following a two-day special parliamentary session aimed at finding a solution to the country's political crisis. Many opposition lawmakers said the remaining emergency decree inflamed the still-tense situation in Thailand, but Abhisit said it was one way to find a solution to the crisis that has rocked the country. The Bangkok protests were part of Thailand's long-running political turmoil, which revolves around Thaksin's ouster in a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and abuse of power. Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon, fled the country last year ahead of a corruption conviction. His supporters, who are known as the "red shirts", rioted in Bangkok last week, calling for Abhisit's resignation and new elections. They claim Abhisit, who was appointed by parliament in December, came to power illegitimately after court rulings removed two Thaksin-allied governments. The state of emergency was imposed April 12 amid rioting in Bangkok. Two people were killed and 123 injured as protesters clashed with troops and residents. The emergency decree banned gatherings of more than five people and news reports that threatened public order and allowed the government to call up military troops to quell unrest. Thaksin, who still enjoys wide support among Thailand's rural poor because of his social welfare programmes while in office, addressed demonstrators from exile via video link during the run-up to this month's riots, and at one point called for a "revolution". He changed his message after the rioting and joined political rivals in calling for reconciliation. The protests by his supporters came after three years of sporadic protests by Thaksin's opponents, the "yellow shirts", whose rallies paved the way to the 2006 coup and the later court dismissals of Thaksin's allies. The yellow shirts come mainly from the urban, middle class and educated elite of Thai society, including royalists. Thaksin's whereabouts continue to dominate headlines in Thailand and taunt the government, who holds him responsible for the recent violence and is trying to extradite him. The tycoon travelled to Liberia earlier this week to inquire about investing in diamonds, officials said, continuing his global wanderings in pursuit of business ventures. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...