BANGKOK - THE Thai government vowed on Friday to protect delegates attending a regional meeting after anti-government protesters overran the last summit it hosted, forcing participants to flee by helicopter.

This time, US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton is among the foreign ministers and high-level delegates from 26 countries scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Regional Forum, which begins Friday on the southern island of Phuket.

Thailand's Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said no political protests, peaceful or otherwise, will be allowed.

'All three armed forces and the police will be deployed in Phuket to provide security to the ministers and the delegates,' Mr Prawit said. 'History will not repeat itself. We cannot let anyone derail this meeting.'

An Asian summit at the seaside resort of Pattaya in April was shut down when protesters seeking the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government stormed the meeting site.

The incident caused deep embarrassment for Thai authorities, who had already postponed the summit from December, when thousands of anti-government protesters blockaded Bangkok's two main airports for eight days.

Last month, the Thai Cabinet approved the use of the Internal Security Act, which will allow military and police forces to impose curfews and restrict freedom of movement in situations deemed harmful to national security.

Thai officials also promised to protect forum participants from swine flu, which has seen a spike of cases in the country in recent weeks.

Thailand has reported 26 swine flu-related deaths, and more than 4,000 people have been infected.

Thai public health workers will distribute face masks and disinfectant gel to delegates and reporters, Asean Affairs Department Director Witawas Sriwihok said, adding that a clinic is available at the forum site.

The Asean Regional Forum will be attended by members from the 10-member association and its 16 dialogue partners from the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States. -- AP