Bangkok, Oct 19: Australian Prime Minister John Howard went for a leisurely jog today around a central Bangkok park that remained open to the public despite earlier pledges that it would be closed for security reasons. The premier was accompanied by a bevy of Australian and Thai security officials, including two Thai cavalry, on his customary early morning exercise as he waved and called out greetings to the curious Thai public.
Bangkok's governor Samak Sundaravej last week said he had issued an order for the park to be cleaned up and cordoned off to the public during Howard's exercise spin as part of the tight security surrounding the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Lumpini park, dubbed the "lungs of Bangkok", is normally packed every morning with Thais exercising or just taking a break from the chaotic and polluted city streets.
Howard arrived in Bangkok yesterday ahead of a two-day summit from Monday of 21 APEC leaders, including US President George W. Bush and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.

Bureau Report