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| Five killed in Thailand clashes | Five killed in Thailand clashes |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Five people have been killed and 300 hurt in clashes in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, as troops tried to retake areas from anti-government protesters. | |
| 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. | 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 army has now called for a truce, saying its troops are retreating. | The army has now called for a truce, saying its troops are retreating. |
| The protesters, who want the government to call new elections, have been camped out in parts of the city for a month. | The protesters, who want the government to call new elections, have been camped out in parts of the city for a month. |
| If this continues, if the army responds to the red-shirts, the violence will escalate Col Sansern KaewkamnerdArmy spokesman | |
| Earlier, the security forces retook an anti-government TV station. | Earlier, the security forces retook an anti-government TV station. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Explosion' | 'Explosion' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 protests | 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 protests |
| Later, hospital officials confirmed that five people had died, including a Japanese journalist working for the Reuters news agency. The other four were believed to be protesters, they added. | |
| An army spokesman, Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, meanwhile went on national television to announce that the security forces had retreated, and appealed to the red-shirts to do the same. | |
| "If this continues, if the army responds to the red-shirts, the violence will escalate," he said, adding that some of the protesters had been using "real bullets and grenades". | |
| A senior government official had been asked to co-ordinate with the protesters "to bring back peace", Col Sansern said. | |
| A red-shirt leader also called on supporters to pull back. | |
| An earlier confrontation near Phan Fah bridge left five people with gunshot wounds. Troops also unsuccessfully sought to clear another protester camp nearby at the Kok Woa intersection. | |
| The army had earlier declared that it hoped to clear out the protesters from one site by dusk, and that it would employ "soft measures and hard measures". | The army had earlier declared that it hoped to clear out the protesters from one site by dusk, and that it would employ "soft measures and hard measures". |
| Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said that "if the security officers have to use force, they will do it with caution". | Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said that "if the security officers have to use force, they will do it with caution". |
| Riot police have meanwhile been gathering in 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. | |
| The red-shirts - a loose coalition of left-wing activists and supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva 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 Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva 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. Mr Thaksin was ousted as prime minister 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. Mr Thaksin was ousted as prime minister 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. |
| Are you in Bangkok or Pathum Thani? Tell us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Bangkok or Pathum Thani? Tell us your experiences using the form below. |
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