Sunday, December 1, 2013

Thai troops deployed amid Bangkok protests

BBC News

Troops have been deployed in the Thai capital Bangkok to support riot police shielding official buildings from anti-government protesters.

Activists have threatened to enter key government buildings, including the headquarters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Two people were killed and dozens more wounded on Saturday as pro- and anti-government groups clashed.

Sunday is the eighth day of protests aiming to unseat Ms Yingluck.

The demonstrators' Civil Movement for Democracy has announced an all-out assault on the heart of the government, with the aim of replacing it with a "People's Council".

Protesters claim Ms Yingluck's administration is really controlled by her brother, exiled ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says military commanders have been reluctant to get involved in the conflict but agreed to deploy troops on condition they would carry no weapons and would stand behind riot police ringing the main government offices.

Ms Yingluck has said the government would use minimum force to hold back the protesters.

Early on Sunday, pro-government "red shirt" leaders said they were ending their mass rally at a Bangkok stadium to allow security forces to police rival demonstrations.

On Saturday, what had been largely peaceful protests turned violent when students attacked vehicles bringing pro-government activists to the stadium.

Shots were fired, but it is not clear yet by whom.

Police reinforcements were sent in and roads blocked, but skirmishes continued for several hours.

Police then called for military backup.

Tension is high in Bangkok as the anti-government movement prepares for what it calls a "people's revolt" - a mass occupation of government buildings all over the city.

There is a high risk of greater violence if more supporters of Ms Yingluck - whose party enjoys strong backing outside Bangkok - try to come to the capital, our correspondent adds.

On Friday Ms Yingluck ruled out early elections, telling the BBC that the country was not calm enough for polls.

She repeated her call for negotiations to resolve the crisis.

Demonstrators have been surrounding and occupying official buildings this week in an attempt to disrupt the government.

On Friday at least 1,000 protesters forced their way into the army headquarters compound, but did not enter any buildings.

Protesters have also cut electricity to the national police headquarters and forced the evacuation of Thailand's top crime-fighting agency.

Ms Yingluck has invoked special powers allowing curfews and road closures. Police have also ordered the arrest of protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban - but so far no move has been made to detain him.

Thailand is facing its largest protests since 2010, when thousands of red-shirt Thaksin supporters occupied key parts of the capital. More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died over the course of the two-month sit-in.

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