10 die in violent Bangkok clashes
Source: Agencies |
April 11, 2010, Sunday
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THAI soldiers and police fought pitched battles last night with anti-government demonstrators in streets enveloped in tear gas, but troops later retreated and asked protesters to do the same.
At least 10 people have been killed, including a journalist, a hospital said. More than 500 were injured.
The army had vowed to clear protesters out of one of their bases in Bangkok by nightfall, but an Associated Press photographer said the push instead set off street fighting.
He said there was the continuous sound of gunfire and explosions, mostly from Molotov cocktails. After more than two hours of fierce clashes, soldiers pulled back.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd went on national television last night to ask the protesters to retreat as well. He also accused them of firing live rounds and throwing grenades.
"The security forces have now retreated to a certain extent from the 'red shirts'," Sansern said.
He said a senior government official has been asked to coordinate with the protesters "to bring back peace" and urged them to back away.
Four protesters and a Japanese journalist who worked for Thomson Reuters news agency were killed, said Pichaya Nakwatchara, director of BMA General Hospital. He said most appeared to have been hit by hard objects on the head and some had gunshot wounds.
Protesters marched the body of a man they said was killed in the fighting to one of their encampments. They carried the man who had part of his head blown off on a stretcher.
The injury toll for the day rose to 486, according to the government's Erawan emergency center. There were reports that several people sustained gunshot wounds.
The army said any live rounds were fired only into the air, but confirmed that two of its soldiers had been shot. Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said more than 60 soldiers had been injured.
The "red shirt" protesters are demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve Parliament and call new elections. They claim that he came to power illegitimately in December 2008 with the help of military pressure on parliament.
Most of the fighting took place around Democracy Monument, which is near one of the "red shirt" protesters encampments. But it spread even to the Khao Sarn Road area, a favorite of foreign backpackers.
Soldiers made repeated charges to clear "red shirts," while some tourists stood by watching. Two protesters and a Buddhist monk were badly beaten by soldiers and taken away by ambulance.
At least 10 people have been killed, including a journalist, a hospital said. More than 500 were injured.
The army had vowed to clear protesters out of one of their bases in Bangkok by nightfall, but an Associated Press photographer said the push instead set off street fighting.
He said there was the continuous sound of gunfire and explosions, mostly from Molotov cocktails. After more than two hours of fierce clashes, soldiers pulled back.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd went on national television last night to ask the protesters to retreat as well. He also accused them of firing live rounds and throwing grenades.
"The security forces have now retreated to a certain extent from the 'red shirts'," Sansern said.
He said a senior government official has been asked to coordinate with the protesters "to bring back peace" and urged them to back away.
Four protesters and a Japanese journalist who worked for Thomson Reuters news agency were killed, said Pichaya Nakwatchara, director of BMA General Hospital. He said most appeared to have been hit by hard objects on the head and some had gunshot wounds.
Protesters marched the body of a man they said was killed in the fighting to one of their encampments. They carried the man who had part of his head blown off on a stretcher.
The injury toll for the day rose to 486, according to the government's Erawan emergency center. There were reports that several people sustained gunshot wounds.
The army said any live rounds were fired only into the air, but confirmed that two of its soldiers had been shot. Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said more than 60 soldiers had been injured.
The "red shirt" protesters are demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve Parliament and call new elections. They claim that he came to power illegitimately in December 2008 with the help of military pressure on parliament.
Most of the fighting took place around Democracy Monument, which is near one of the "red shirt" protesters encampments. But it spread even to the Khao Sarn Road area, a favorite of foreign backpackers.
Soldiers made repeated charges to clear "red shirts," while some tourists stood by watching. Two protesters and a Buddhist monk were badly beaten by soldiers and taken away by ambulance.
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