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| Bangkok under state of emergency | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thailand's Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, has declared a state of emergency in the capital, Bangkok, after clashes left one person dead. | |
| Dozens more were injured in protests early on Tuesday. | |
| Fighting broke out after supporters of Mr Sundaravej pushed through police lines near Government House, occupied by the People's Alliance for Democracy. | |
| PAD supporters say the government is a front for the exiled former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. | |
| Earlier, they threatened to close more airports and urge unions to strike. | Earlier, they threatened to close more airports and urge unions to strike. |
| Three airports reopened on Sunday after being forced to close for two days by demonstrations, but rail services are still disrupted. | Three airports reopened on Sunday after being forced to close for two days by demonstrations, but rail services are still disrupted. |
| See a map of key protest areas in Bangkok | See a map of key protest areas in Bangkok |
| An emergency debate in parliament failed to end the stalemate between Mr Samak's fragile coalition and his opponents. | An emergency debate in parliament failed to end the stalemate between Mr Samak's fragile coalition and his opponents. |
| Troops deployed | Troops deployed |
| Overnight, thousands of PAD supporters took to the streets of Bangkok and forced their way into government buildings. | |
| Mr Samak was initially praised for his restraint in dealing with the protests, but he suddenly found his position weakened on Friday when the police pulled back and the triumphant protest leaders were left in control of the government complex. | Mr Samak was initially praised for his restraint in dealing with the protests, but he suddenly found his position weakened on Friday when the police pulled back and the triumphant protest leaders were left in control of the government complex. |
| Armed anti-government protesters retaliated against the onslaught | Armed anti-government protesters retaliated against the onslaught |
| The demonstrations in the capital remained relatively peaceful over the weekend, but on Monday evening violent clashes broke out when hundreds of government supporters marched towards Government House, armed with sticks and clubs. | The demonstrations in the capital remained relatively peaceful over the weekend, but on Monday evening violent clashes broke out when hundreds of government supporters marched towards Government House, armed with sticks and clubs. |
| After pushing through a police line outside the compound, they fought with similarly armed PAD supporters. Gunfire was also reportedly fired in the melee. | After pushing through a police line outside the compound, they fought with similarly armed PAD supporters. Gunfire was also reportedly fired in the melee. |
| TV pictures showed a man lying motionless on the ground with a pool of blood around his head as well as dozens of injured afterwards. | TV pictures showed a man lying motionless on the ground with a pool of blood around his head as well as dozens of injured afterwards. |
| Dr Petchpong Kamjornkijjakarn of the Erawan Medical Centre said one person had died from severe head injuries and that four others were in a serious condition, two of whom had gunshot wounds. | Dr Petchpong Kamjornkijjakarn of the Erawan Medical Centre said one person had died from severe head injuries and that four others were in a serious condition, two of whom had gunshot wounds. |
| At least 31 others are being treated for injuries across the city. | At least 31 others are being treated for injuries across the city. |
| The national police chief, Patcharavat Wongsuwan, later told a local news channel the army had been called in to help calm the situation. | The national police chief, Patcharavat Wongsuwan, later told a local news channel the army had been called in to help calm the situation. |
| "The number of police is still enough to take care of the situation, but we have asked the assistance from the army to help," he said. | "The number of police is still enough to take care of the situation, but we have asked the assistance from the army to help," he said. |
| Strike threat | Strike threat |
| As the anti-government protests entered a seventh day on Monday, public sector unions said they would begin a nationwide strike at 43 state enterprises on Wednesday unless Prime Minister stepped down. | As the anti-government protests entered a seventh day on Monday, public sector unions said they would begin a nationwide strike at 43 state enterprises on Wednesday unless Prime Minister stepped down. |
| I am not afraid, but I am concerned about chaos in the nation Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Q&A: Bangkok protestsRifts behind the political crisisProfile: Samak Sundaravej | I am not afraid, but I am concerned about chaos in the nation Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Q&A: Bangkok protestsRifts behind the political crisisProfile: Samak Sundaravej |
| The State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation also threatened to cut off water, electricity and phone service at government offices and disrupt flights. | The State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation also threatened to cut off water, electricity and phone service at government offices and disrupt flights. |
| "The government has beaten protesters, and that justifies our retaliating by stopping water, telephone service and electricity to some government agencies," said Sawit Kaewwan, the federation's secretary-general. | "The government has beaten protesters, and that justifies our retaliating by stopping water, telephone service and electricity to some government agencies," said Sawit Kaewwan, the federation's secretary-general. |
| In his weekly radio address on Sunday, Mr Samak reiterated that he would not resign and repeated his threat to remove by force the PAD protesters occupying the government complex. | In his weekly radio address on Sunday, Mr Samak reiterated that he would not resign and repeated his threat to remove by force the PAD protesters occupying the government complex. |
| "I am not afraid, but I am concerned about chaos in the nation," he said. "We cannot let the seizure of Government House continue indefinitely without taking action." | "I am not afraid, but I am concerned about chaos in the nation," he said. "We cannot let the seizure of Government House continue indefinitely without taking action." |
| But the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there appear to be very few ways out of this crisis. | But the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there appear to be very few ways out of this crisis. |
| KEY EVENTS Sept 2006: Bloodless coup by military sees PM Thaksin Shinawatra removed from officeApril 2007: New military-drafted constitution approvedDec 2007: General election won by People Power Party (PPP), seen as reincarnation of Thaksin's now banned Thai Rak Thai party Jan 2008: Samak Sundaravej chosen as PM Feb 2008: Thaksin returns from exileMay 2008: PAD protests against Samak beginJuly 2008: Thaksin goes on trial for corruption; his wife is found guilty of fraud. By mid-August the family has fled to the UKAugust 2008: PAD protests escalate | KEY EVENTS Sept 2006: Bloodless coup by military sees PM Thaksin Shinawatra removed from officeApril 2007: New military-drafted constitution approvedDec 2007: General election won by People Power Party (PPP), seen as reincarnation of Thaksin's now banned Thai Rak Thai party Jan 2008: Samak Sundaravej chosen as PM Feb 2008: Thaksin returns from exileMay 2008: PAD protests against Samak beginJuly 2008: Thaksin goes on trial for corruption; his wife is found guilty of fraud. By mid-August the family has fled to the UKAugust 2008: PAD protests escalate |
| The government retains strong rural support and would probably be re-elected if fresh polls were called - and the PAD does not support such elections, our correspondent says. | The government retains strong rural support and would probably be re-elected if fresh polls were called - and the PAD does not support such elections, our correspondent says. |
| The army, which is adopting a studiedly neutral position, will not assist in evicting the protesters from Government House - and the police are reluctant to act alone, he adds. Meanwhile, the revered King Bhumibol has also refused to intervene. | The army, which is adopting a studiedly neutral position, will not assist in evicting the protesters from Government House - and the police are reluctant to act alone, he adds. Meanwhile, the revered King Bhumibol has also refused to intervene. |
| The outcome of this paralysing dispute, therefore, probably hinges on which side first makes a mistake, or decides to back down and seek a compromise, our correspondent says. So far neither side seems inclined to do so. | The outcome of this paralysing dispute, therefore, probably hinges on which side first makes a mistake, or decides to back down and seek a compromise, our correspondent says. So far neither side seems inclined to do so. |
| The PAD - a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - was formed in the months before Mr Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006. He has since fled the country to avoid facing trial over corruption charges. | The PAD - a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - was formed in the months before Mr Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006. He has since fled the country to avoid facing trial over corruption charges. |
| It has a passionate following in various parts of the country, especially Bangkok, and some powerful backers among the elite. | It has a passionate following in various parts of the country, especially Bangkok, and some powerful backers among the elite. |
| But it has little support in most of rural Thailand, which voted strongly for Prime Minister Samak, and Mr Thaksin before him. | But it has little support in most of rural Thailand, which voted strongly for Prime Minister Samak, and Mr Thaksin before him. |
| Click to return | Click to return |