Thai PM dodges protesters, gives speech

BANGKOK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was forced to give his inaugural speech at the Foreign Ministry Tuesday as protesters blocked Parliament, witnesses said.

With thousands of red-shirted backers of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra blocking access to the Parliament building, Abhisit was forced to detour to the Foreign Ministry where a quorum of legislators had gathered to listen to his maiden address, The New York Times reported.

In the speech, Abhisit said the political turmoil that has wracked Thailand in recent months "has become the weakness of the country" and has hindered its economy at a time of worldwide financial crisis, saying the country's political conflicts must be solved to revive the crucial tourism industry, the newspaper said.

The protesters and hundreds of riot police had spent the night outside Parliament in anticipation of Abhisit's speech. The protesters say Abhisit, who was elected by a Parliamentary vote two weeks ago, was installed in "a coup."

They instead back Thaksin, a wealthy businessman who fled Thailand to avoid corruption cases against him, but who continues to command the support of Thailand's rural majority, the Times said.