Weapons cache of Thai protesters put on display

Thailand

Protesters' weapons cache put on display

Thai officials Saturday displayed the large cache of weapons seized from a stronghold of antigovernment protesters in the heart of Bangkok that the military cleared after a violent two-month standoff and 85 deaths. The weapons — including rifles, bullets, grenades and the components of bombs — were put on display to defend the government's claim that the troops faced a serious threat and exercised appropriate force when they moved in to clear the main protest area. Police also said eight Red Shirt leaders have now been separated in detention, their phones have been seized and they are under armed guard, after police were criticized as treating the protest leaders with leniency. Bangkok remains in a state of emergency and under a nighttime curfew through the weekend. But many shops were open Saturday, and traffic was returning to the city. The government said it would allow Red Shirt gatherings, as long as they were peaceful. Thai media reported the Red Shirts movement, which seeks early elections, plans more protests Monday.

TRENTON, N.J.

30,000 turn out against budget cuts

A crowd estimated at 30,000 to 35,000 people gathered Saturday near New Jersey's Statehouse to protest Gov. Chris Christie's proposed budget cuts. The crowd was believed to be one of the largest ever to protest in state history. It was mostly made up of public employee union members and several community and nonprofit groups that would lose some or all their funding if Christie's plans are adopted. Christie has called for workers to accept wage freezes, and he has pushed for them to contribute toward their health benefits.

SAN FRANCISCO

Events honor gay rights activist Milk

Events were taking place in California and across the country Saturday in observance of Harvey Milk, marking the first day of "special significance" in the West Coast state to honor the slain gay rights leader. Along with concerts, political fundraisers and rallies in California, commemorative Harvey Milk Day events were planned in 20 other states on what would have been his 80th birthday. Milk was the first openly gay man to win elected office in a major U.S. city. He was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978 when he was assassinated.

Slovakia

Neonazi attack halts gay parade

Attacks by Neonazis on Saturday forced authorities to call off what would have been Slovakia's first-ever gay pride parade in Bratislava. Right-wing extremists attacked the early gathering of gay marchers in a central city square with tear gas and assaulted some of the participants verbally and physically. Police were worried that they could not guarantee the marchers' safety.

Times wires