Entire region affected by Thai riots, say analysts

The effects of violent protests in Thailand that forced the cancellation of a regional summit have spread beyond the country's borders, analysts said yesterday.

The standoff between protesters and the Thai government - which caused enormous losses to the national economy and brought the capital to a virtual standstill - appeared to have ended yesterday after protest leaders surrendered and called off their three-week siege of the prime minister's office.

All of East Asia was affected when ASEAN-related meetings were postponed, said Pang Zhongying, a professor on international studies at Renmin University of China.