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| Deadly blasts amid Thai protests | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A series of explosions in the Thai capital Bangkok is reported to have killed at least one person and injured dozens more. | |
| At least some of the blasts were caused by grenades, an army spokesman said, but it was not clear who fired them. | |
| The blasts followed rising tensions in the long-running stand-off between police and anti-government protesters. | 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. | Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called an emergency meeting with security chiefs, officials said. |
| At least one person died and 50 people were injured, including at least one foreigner, according to reports citing hospital sources. | |
| AT THE SCENE Vaudine England, BBC News, Bangkok | |
| Bangkok has been wired up for danger for days now. | |
| A second attempt by the military to crack down on the anti-government protesters is widely predicted - the first failed on 10 April with 25 people killed. | |
| The city's fears were heightened by an army spokesman's warning that "time is running out". The military commander has repeated his commitment to a non-violent solution to the stand-off - if possible. The red-shirts refuse to go away, and refuse to have peace talks. | |
| In this febrile atmosphere, the explosion of at least five grenades could be the trigger for wider violence. As ever throughout this fraught ramping up of pressure on the government, each side could step back. But the record of violence does not bode well for what could be a new and tragic phase in a bitter political conflict. | |
| Television images showed a chaotic scene with ambulances streaming into the area and panicked residents helping to carry the injured to safety. Blood was splattered across pavements and office windows were smashed. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." |
| Are you in Bangkok? Have you witnessed any clashes? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Bangkok? Have you witnessed any clashes? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| 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 |