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Clashes in Thailand leave 18 dead Bangkok death toll climbs to 18
(about 2 hours later)
At least 18 people have been killed and 800 hurt in clashes in the Thai capital Bangkok, as troops tried to retake areas from anti-government protesters. At least 18 people are now known to have died in clashes between Thai troops and opposition supporters in Bangkok, and more than 800 were hurt.
Soldiers and police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as they advanced after dusk on the red-shirt protesters, who responded by throwing petrol bombs. The worst violence came when soldiers and police made an unsuccessful attempt to retake an area held by opposition supporters on Saturday evening.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva later said the army had halted its operation. They fired tear gas and rubber bullets as they advanced, while protesters hurled petrol bombs.
The protesters, who want the government to call new elections, have been camped out in parts of the city for a month. At the height of the violence, live rounds were reportedly fired.
The army then called for a truce, saying its troops were pulling back. At least four soldiers were among the dead.
The army were firing live rounds on civilians. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself Paul, British teacher Eyewitness: 'Shot in the chest'The army were firing live rounds on civilians. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself Paul, British teacher Eyewitness: 'Shot in the chest'
Earlier, the security forces retook an anti-government TV station. Hundreds of red-shirted opposition supporters also reportedly forced their way into government offices in the northern cities of Chiang Mai and Udon Thani in protest at the crackdown in the Thai capital.
Protesters overcame police outside the offices of the People Channel on Friday and temporarily put it back on air. TV footage showed officers shaking hands and smiling with protesters as they retreated. Both the security services and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government had promised to show restraint in dealing with the demonstrators in order to avoid a repeat of last year's riots, when two protesters were killed.
Meanwhile, hundreds of red-shirts are reported to have forced their way into government offices in the northern cities of Chiang Mai and Udon Thani in protest at the government crackdown in Bangkok. But the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Bangkok says the deaths of so many more in Saturday's clashes can only mean greater political uncertainty for the country.
'Hard measures' 'Regret'
After night fell in the capital, hundreds of soldiers and riot police advanced on a red-shirt camp near Phan Fah bridge and Rajdumnoen road, close to several government buildings and a UN office. Reports from Bangkok on Sunday morning said the city of 15 million appeared to be calm as an unofficial truce took hold.
Local media reported that both sides were firing weapons and detonating explosive devices. Images broadcast on television showed chaotic scenes, with clouds of tear gas enveloping the streets.
COLOUR-CODED PROTESTS Many rural dwellers and urban poor support red-shirts, while yellow-shirts comprise mainly middle classes and urban eliteIn September 2008 yellows rally against government, reds counter-rally, clashes in BangkokYellows blockade airport in November 2008, government collapses, yellow-friendly government installedIn April 2009 red protests halt Asean summit, two people die in Bangkok clashes, rallies called offReds relaunch protests in March 2010, splash blood on government buildings, march on parliament Reds and yellows Q&A: Thailand protestsCOLOUR-CODED PROTESTS Many rural dwellers and urban poor support red-shirts, while yellow-shirts comprise mainly middle classes and urban eliteIn September 2008 yellows rally against government, reds counter-rally, clashes in BangkokYellows blockade airport in November 2008, government collapses, yellow-friendly government installedIn April 2009 red protests halt Asean summit, two people die in Bangkok clashes, rallies called offReds relaunch protests in March 2010, splash blood on government buildings, march on parliament Reds and yellows Q&A: Thailand protests
Paul, a British teacher who lives in Thailand, told the BBC he had been in a crowd of protesters across the road from the Khao San intersection - where later the clashes spread - when one man was shot in the chest. It is not known if he was one of the dead. The protesters, who want the government to call new elections, have been camped out in parts of the city for a month.
"There were shots, but I thought they were rubber bullets until I saw what happened to the man. He was around 50 years old, and waving a flag from a pick-up truck. His head was 5ft above from the highest point of the truck." Hundreds of soldiers and riot police advanced after nightfall on one of the red-shirt camps, near Phan Fah bridge and Rajdumnoen road, close to several government buildings and a UN office.
"He looked normal and then fell to the ground," he added. "The army were firing live rounds on civilians. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself." Local media say both sides fired weapons and detonated explosive devices in the clashes which ensued. Television footage showed chaotic scenes, with clouds of tear gas enveloping the streets.
Later, the government's Erawan emergency centre said at least 18 people - at least four of them soldiers - had been killed. Hiro Muramoto, a Japanese television cameraman covering the clashes for Reuters was among the dead, the news agency confirmed. Paul, a British teacher who lives in Thailand, told the BBC he had been in a crowd of protesters across the road from the Khao San intersection when he saw a man of about 50 being shot in the chest as he waved a flag from a pick-up truck.
Shortly before midnight, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva went on national television to express his "regret" to the families of the victims and insist the troops involved would only have fired live rounds "into the air and in self-defence". "The army were firing live rounds on civilians," he said. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself."
"The soldiers have stopped their operation. The protests continue, but in such a way that does not interfere with the security forces." Shortly before midnight, Prime Minister Vejjajiva went on national television to say troops had halted their operation and express his "regret" to families of victims.
"The government and I are still responsible for easing the situation and trying to bring peace and order to the country," he added, indirectly asserting that he would not resign. Soldiers, he insisted, would only have fired live rounds "into the air and in self-defence".
"The government and I are still responsible for easing the situation and trying to bring peace and order to the country," he added.
Earlier confrontations left several people with gunshot woundsEarlier confrontations left several people with gunshot wounds
An army spokesman, Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, earlier announced that the security forces were pulling back, and accused some of the protesters of using "real bullets and grenades". An army spokesman, Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, accused some protesters of using live bullets and grenades.
Later, Col Sansern was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that five soldiers had been "detained by red-shirt protesters". Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan called on King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene after Saturday's violence, saying it was the "way to prevent further deaths".
The army had declared it hoped to clear out the protesters from one camp by dusk, and would employ "soft measures and hard measures". 'Darkest hour'
Riot police have meanwhile been sent to the city's main shopping area, where the red-shirts are planning to hold a mass rally. Most of the shops in the area have been closed and the city's elevated mass transit system, the BTS Skytrain, has been shut down.
Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan called on King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene in the wake of Saturday's clashes, saying it was the "way to prevent further deaths".
"Did anybody inform the king that his children were killed in the middle of the road without justice?" he asked protesters, according to AFP. "Is there anyone close to him who told him of the gunfights?"
Political uncertainty
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Bangkok says Saturday's clashes have been the deadliest since the mass protests began last month.
The red-shirts want the government to dissolve parliament and call an election
Both the security services and Mr Abhisit had promised to show restraint in order to avoid a repeat of last year's riots, when two members of the Red Shirts were killed, and Thailand went into a state of national shock, our correspondent says.
The death of so many more people on Saturday can only mean greater political uncertainty for the country, he adds.
The red-shirts - a loose coalition of left-wing activists and supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - want Mr Abhisit to dissolve parliament and call an election.The red-shirts - a loose coalition of left-wing activists and supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - want Mr Abhisit to dissolve parliament and call an election.
They say Mr Abhisit came to power illegitimately in a parliamentary vote after a pro-Thaksin government was forced to step down in 2008. Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006.They say Mr Abhisit came to power illegitimately in a parliamentary vote after a pro-Thaksin government was forced to step down in 2008. Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
They have vowed to defy the state of emergency declared on Wednesday with more rallies. Arrest warrants have been issued for several of the protest leaders.They have vowed to defy the state of emergency declared on Wednesday with more rallies. Arrest warrants have been issued for several of the protest leaders.
Washington has urged both sides to show restraint.
"We deplore this outbreak of political violence in Thailand, our long-term friend and ally, and urge good faith negotiations by the parties to resolve outstanding issues through peaceful means," White House spokesman Mike Hammer said.
Editorials in Bangkok newspapers on Sunday also called for urgent talks between the government and the red-shirts to end the violence.
The Nation daily newspaper called the violence "our darkest hour".
"Yesterday's bloodbath is a wake-up call to halt the slide towards anarchy," it said in a front-page commentary.
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