This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8264189.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Thailand rocked by rival protests | Thailand rocked by rival protests |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Thousands of troops were deployed in Thailand as rival political groups held separate protests, one of which turned violent. | |
Crowds of demonstrators turned out in Bangkok to mark the third anniversary of the coup which ousted controversial Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. | |
Far away on the border, an anti-Thaksin group clashed with police as it tried to enter a disputed border temple. | Far away on the border, an anti-Thaksin group clashed with police as it tried to enter a disputed border temple. |
Several people were injured and one man was shot in the neck, an official said. | |
Security forces and local villagers had set up roadblocks to try to prevent the group entering the 11th century Preah Vihear site, the scene of deadly shootings between Cambodian and Thai troops in recent months. | |
Election call | Election call |
In Bangkok, thousands of troops and police were ordered onto the streets ahead of the protest by Mr Thaksin's red-shirted supporters. | In Bangkok, thousands of troops and police were ordered onto the streets ahead of the protest by Mr Thaksin's red-shirted supporters. |
Mr Thaksin himself is in overseas exile, after being convicted in absentia of corruption. | Mr Thaksin himself is in overseas exile, after being convicted in absentia of corruption. |
Profile: Reds and yellows Tranquil temple at centre of a storm | Profile: Reds and yellows Tranquil temple at centre of a storm |
He won elections in 2001 and 2005, swept to office by a wave of support from rural voters whose concerns he worked to address. After he was ousted, his allies won the first post-coup elections in 2007. | He won elections in 2001 and 2005, swept to office by a wave of support from rural voters whose concerns he worked to address. After he was ousted, his allies won the first post-coup elections in 2007. |
But protests - including a blockade of Bangkok's two international airports - by those who opposed him, the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), forced that government from office, allowing the party they backed to form a coalition. | But protests - including a blockade of Bangkok's two international airports - by those who opposed him, the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), forced that government from office, allowing the party they backed to form a coalition. |
The red camp want fresh elections and a pardon for Mr Thaksin. Their last rally, in April, ended in violence, with several buses burned and dozens of people injured. | The red camp want fresh elections and a pardon for Mr Thaksin. Their last rally, in April, ended in violence, with several buses burned and dozens of people injured. |
By early evening, several thousand demonstrators had joined the protests, police said. | |
"This will be a peaceful protest and will end by midnight if the government does not use violence," Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan said. | "This will be a peaceful protest and will end by midnight if the government does not use violence," Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan said. |
Temple tensions | Temple tensions |
The yellow camp, meanwhile, battled riot police and local villagers near Preah Vihear, the temple complex at the heart of a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. | |
An international court awarded the temple area to Cambodia in 1962, but disputes over land surrounding it have never been resolved. | An international court awarded the temple area to Cambodia in 1962, but disputes over land surrounding it have never been resolved. |
The PAD says the government must eject Cambodian troops from what they perceive as Thai territory. | The PAD says the government must eject Cambodian troops from what they perceive as Thai territory. |
About 4,000 PAD supporters had joined the protest, reports said, and had broken through barricades to reach the foot of the temple. | |
Both Thailand and Cambodia deployed troops there last year after the temple was awarded Unesco World Heritage status, raising nationalist sentiment on either side. | |
Since then there have been several deadly exchanges of fire across the border. | |
Are you in the area? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the area? Send us your comments using the form below. |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |