Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday said the government hopes to reschedule the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits to June, Thai media reported.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (1st L) speaks during a news conference in Bangkok April 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Thana Nuntavoranut)

The government will first check the new schedule with related Asian countries to see whether their leaders are available during that period, Abhisit said, adding that Thailand will try its best to ensure the leaders’ confidence in their safety.

The 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits was initially scheduled to be held on April 10-12 in a hotel in Thai resort town of Pattaya and Thai government announced the postponement of it on April 11 after red-shirted protesters stormed into the venue.

ASEAN chief Surin Pitsuwan suggested earlier that Thailand host the summit as soon as possible for the benefits of the ASEAN grouping as a whole, Abhisit said.

Abhisit also said the cabinet meeting did not discuss the red-shirt movement, whose leaders had announced they will regroup on Saturday in Samut Sakhon, outside the emergency zone.

The prime minister declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and five nearby provinces on April 14, citing the escalating violence by the anti-government protesters led by the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet