Cambodia supports moving ASEAN summit

PHNOM PENH - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday backed a proposal for crisis-hit Thailand to relinquish hosting a summit of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN originally scheduled for this month.

Thailand said last week it was delaying the meeting until March due to its ongoing political turmoil, which saw anti-government protesters occupy both of its capital's airports.

Speaking at Cambodia's national assembly, Hun Sen strongly backed a suggestion from Singapore that the bloc consider staging the summit in January at the Jakarta-based secretariat of the 10-member ASEAN.

"We understand Thailand's difficulties, but Thailand should understand the other nine members of ASEAN -- they should not become hostages of Thailand's political crisis," Hun Sen said.

"So I think the proposal of the Singaporean prime minister is a good way to resolve the problem."

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last week said postponing the summit was a setback for all of Southeast Asia.

He added that the meeting should not be delayed too long during the current global financial crisis, which he said is affecting all ASEAN members.

Thailand currently holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, which groups it with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.