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WORLD> Asia-Pacific
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Thai PM calls for halt to violence
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-04-13 14:32 Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has called for a revolution after rioting erupted in Bangkok. Protesters in the Thai capital have commandeered public buses and swarmed military vehicles in defiance of the state of emergency declared by the government. In the latest update from Thailand, a Thai army spokesman says that gunshots were fired in a clash between hundreds of soldiers and red-shirted protesters in Bangkok early on Monday morning. The gunfire began at about 4:30 am local time on Monday with 300 protesters were involved in the clash. Apparently, anti-government protesters wee roaming Bangkok, furiously smashing armored vehicles, looting and attacking men they suspected to be senior government officials. Police did say some 30-thousand demonstrators were scattered around the city on Sunday, blocking 20 intersections on the city street. Political tensions have simmered since Thaksin was ousted by a military coup three years ago for alleged corruption and abuse of power. His rival, current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, is calling on the public not to panic and to cooperate with the government to end the crisis. The current situation has left open the possibility of tough military action.Thailand has experienced 18 military coups in the past seven decades. |
