Asia-Pacific

UN chief appeals for talks to avoid clashes in Thailand

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-15 11:10

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UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called on both the protesters and the Thai authorities to make utmost efforts to "avoid further violence and loss of life" and "strongly encourages them to urgently return to dialogue" in order to resolve matters in a peaceful way.

A statement, issued by Ban's spokesman, said that the secretary-general "appeals to both the protesters and the Thai authorities to do all within their power to avoid further violence and the loss of life."

"He strongly encourages them to urgently return to dialogue in order to de-escalate the situation and resolve matters peacefully," the statement said.

"The secretary-general is following with growing concern the rapidly mounting tensions and violence in Thailand," the statement said. "He is saddened by the reports of numerous civilian deaths, including journalists, as a result of the latest clashes between protesters and security forces."

A Thai man was killed on Friday during clashes between troops and the anti-government protesters at the Bonkai Intersection in capital Bangkok.

The 33-year-old man, who was shot at his chest, was sent to a hospital nearby the clash site and later was confirmed dead, Thai News Agency reported.

In addition, five persons were injured during the clashes.

The death toll from a series of clashes between troops and the anti-government protesters on Friday in the Thail capital rose to 10, the Erawan's Bangkok Emergency Medical Service Center told Xinhua. Some 110 persons were wounded as among these include both security personnel and civilians, according to the Erawan's emergency center.

The latest development in Bangkok has followed the announcement by the Center for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), which said on Friday morning that it will keep pressure on the"red-shirt" protesters to end their prolonged rally.

The troops started to seal off the "red-shirts" fortified encampment late on Thursday, prompting violent clashes in which Khattiya Sawasdipol, chief military adviser to protesters, was admitted to the hospital after being shot in the head.

The anti-government "red-shirt" rally in central Bangkok has been held from March 12 as the Rathchaprason Intersection in central Bangkok for their main rally site.