.. Washington, I’m Frances Alonzo. Thousands of protesters have stormed Kyrgyzstan's parliament building and set fire to the prosecutor's office in Bishkek, as anti-government protests continue to sweep across the Central Asian nation. Kyrgyzstan's government declared a state of (emergency) after clashes broke out Wednesday between riot police and protesters in the capital. The government says at least 17 people have been killed and 180 others wounded. Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajivahas declared a state of emergency in the capital of Bangkok. He issued the declaration late Wednesday, hours after anti-government protest there briefly stormed the grounds of parliament. Several lawmakers were evacuated by helicopter. Ron Corben has more details in this (report) from Bangkok. Hundreds of anti-government protesters surrounded and briefly entered the nation's parliament building Wednesday. The protesters led by the United Front for Democracy against (Dictatorship), want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down and call elections within 15 days. The prime minister has refused to do so although he has offered to call elections in nine months. UDD spokesman Sean Boonpracong says the month-long protest will continue, going through the Thai New Year or Songkran holiday next week. “As long as it takes, we’re going to go through the Songkran (celebration). And we have the upper hand now so weare going to stay…” The protesters, who wear red shirts, largely (support) former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a coup in 2006. Ron Corben for VOA News, Bangkok. North Korea says it has sentenced an American man to eight years of hard labor and ordered him to pay a $700,000 fine for illegally entering the country earlier this year. The state-run Korean Central News Agency says the defendant, Aijalon Mahli Gomes, (acknowledged) wrongdoing during an appearance at the Central Court in Pyongyang on Tuesday. US President Barack Obama leaves Wednesday evening for the Czech Republic to sign a new treaty between the United States and Russia. That treaty is meant to make new reductions in each nation's (nuclear) stockpiles. The agreement is to be signed Thursday in Prague by President Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev. US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will travel to Beijing on Thursday for talks with Chinese officials. Geithner heads to China after a two-day visit to India. A US Treasury spokesman said Wednesday that Geithner will hold talks with the vice premier, who holds the economic affairs portfolio. Meanwhile, a senior Chinese (diplomat) says China and the United States have reached a new consensus after several months of strain ties. Peter Simpson reports from Beijing. Ahead of President Hu Jintao’s trip next week to Washington to attend an international nuclear security summit and to discuss bilateral ties with President Obama, senior Chinese diplomats were (keen) Wednesday to promote what they described as a new understanding between Beijing and Washington, following a period of tense relations. Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai says China and the United States have reached what he described as "a new consensu" following a telephone call between the countries' two presidents earlier this month. He says this fresh considerate approach to differing views over key issues, including Tibet and Taiwan, will be further (demonstrated) during President Hu’s talks with President Obama on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit. Cui says Beijing and Washington should handle disputes and sensitive issues in a way to strengthen communication and cooperation in various spheres. Peter Simpson for VOA News, Beijing. Authorities in Brazil say at least 102 people have died in landslides and floods, set off by the heaviest rains in (decades) in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Heavy rains began Monday and have continued into Wednesday. Officials say a record-breaking 28.8 centimeters of rain fell in the city of Rio de Janeiro in a 24-hour period. A new forecast warns that economic recovery in the world's top industrial nations remains fragile, and that the pace of growth is (expected) to slow. That assessment comes in a report Wednesday from the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD analyzes economic data for 30 of the world’s leading industrialized countries. More details on this and more at vownews.com. I'm Frances Alonzo, VOA News.