Thai protesters surround Parliament

BANGKOK - Thailand's Parliament postponed a joint session today as thousands of antigovernment protesters surrounded the building in a bid to unseat the government.

Samart Kaewmeechai, the deputy house speaker, said the meeting was put off because members of Parliament could not get into 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 the rally. Protesters sought to prevent lawmakers from entering, and tried to cut electrical wires outside the building to create a blackout before the session.

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 group initially called the protest to block Parliament from debating a bill to rewrite the constitution. That contentious issue was dropped at the last minute, but lawmakers had planned to debate legislation related to an upcoming regional summit.

Protesters allege that the government is the puppet of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They accuse Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power, and contend that 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."

ASSOCIATED PRESS