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Japanese PM back home from canceled Asian summits

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-12 13:36

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso returned home early Sunday from Thailand after the Thai government postponed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) related summits due to massive anti-government demonstrations.

Full coverage: 14th ASEAN Summit Related readings:  All ASEAN Plus Six leaders evacuated safely  Thai gov't evacuate leaders after ASEAN summits canceled  Wen: China hopes ASEAN-related summits can be held

The prime minister left Thailand late Saturday with Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nkasone and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai to avoid becoming embroiled in the mayhem.

"It's a great shame because of the many things we weren't able to do in the meetings and discussions that had been planned," Aso was quoted as telling reporters prior to departure.

Earlier Saturday Aso held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, hinting that Japan will accept a UN Security Council presidential statement over Pyongyang 's recent rocket launch instead of a legally binding resolution.

The Thai government decided to defer the summits to a later date after hundreds of red-clad protesters broke through lines of soldiers and invaded the media center adjacent to the summit venue.

The postponed meetings included the 12th summit between the ASEAN and China, Japan and Souty Korea, the 4th East Asia Summit, and China-Japan-South Korea Breakfast Meeting.