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Blasts rock Bangkok protest hub Dozens injured in Bangkok blasts
(10 minutes later)
At least four explosions have taken place in the Thai capital, Bangkok, where police are in a tense stand-off with anti-government protesters. Dozens of people are reported to have been injured following a series of explosions in the Thai capital Bangkok.
Reports say the blasts, in the business district, injured at least 45 people. At least some of the blasts were caused by grenades, an army spokesman said, but it was not clear who had fired them.
Earlier, a military spokesman warned protesters who have been camped out in Bangkok for six weeks that time for them to leave was running out. The blasts followed rising tensions in the long-running stand-off between police and anti-government protesters.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called an emergency meeting with security chiefs, officials said.
At least 45 people were injured, including at least one foreigner, reports said.
Earlier, a military spokesman warned protesters, who have been camped out in Bangkok for six weeks, that time was running out for them to leave.
The government is under pressure to crack down on the red-shirt protesters, who say they want new elections.The government is under pressure to crack down on the red-shirt protesters, who say they want new elections.
The cause of the explosions was not immediately known, although a police spokesman said at least the first three had been caused by grenades.
Witnesses said at least one blast occurred at an elevated train station in the heart of the capital's business district.Witnesses said at least one blast occurred at an elevated train station in the heart of the capital's business district.
Thai leaders have said they want a negotiated, peaceful end to the dispute, but observers say a non-violent solution is increasingly unlikely.Thai leaders have said they want a negotiated, peaceful end to the dispute, but observers say a non-violent solution is increasingly unlikely.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says protesters and police have been in entrenched positions, waiting to see what will happen next.The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says protesters and police have been in entrenched positions, waiting to see what will happen next.
The latest explosions could be the catalyst for a confrontation that both sides have been trying to avoid, she adds.The latest explosions could be the catalyst for a confrontation that both sides have been trying to avoid, she adds.
Earlier, army spokesman Col Sunsern Kaewkumnerd warned that the protesters' time to move out was "running out".Earlier, army spokesman Col Sunsern Kaewkumnerd warned that the protesters' time to move out was "running out".
"If there is a crack down, innocent people might get hurt," he said. "If we move in, we will attempt to arrest the leaders.""If there is a crack down, innocent people might get hurt," he said. "If we move in, we will attempt to arrest the leaders."
"The government will be very decisive but in the beginning of the operation there may be chaos.""The government will be very decisive but in the beginning of the operation there may be chaos."


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