Thailand's new Cabinet on Tuesday began delivering government policy address before the Parliament in a two-chamber joint session despite that anti-government protesters continued a besiege around the parliament compound in an attempt to block the session.

Somchai Wongsawat, the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, began delivering the policy address after President of Parliament Chai Chidchob announced the session to kick off at around 10:45 a.m. (0345 GMT).

Of the 320 senators and members of parliaments present at the session, 310 voted to agree, which met a 50-percent-quorum, on proceeding with the scheduled session for a government policy address and a following debate by Senators and House Representatives.

Somchai outlined the one-year initial-stage policy platform and a three-year long-term plan, with the priority being "reinstall national unity."

Meanwhile, thousands of anti-government protesters led by People 's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who besieged the Parliament and Metropolitan Police Bureau compound continued demonstrations.

Police in early morning shot tear gas into the protesters in front of the Parliament to open access for the MPs and ministers to get into the compound. After the policy address began, protesters and police at the Metropolitan Police Bureau were seen firing tear gas at each other.

(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2008)