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/8637855.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Deadly blasts amid Thai protests | Deadly blasts amid Thai protests |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A series of explosions in the Thai capital Bangkok is reported to have killed at least one person and injured dozens more. | A series of explosions in the Thai capital Bangkok is reported to have killed at least one person and injured dozens more. |
| The blasts were caused by grenades, an army spokesman said, but it was not clear who fired them. | The blasts were caused by grenades, an army spokesman said, but it was not clear who fired them. |
| The explosions followed rising tensions in the long-running stand-off between police and anti-government protesters. | The explosions 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 more than 50 people were injured, including at least one foreigner, according to reports citing hospital sources. | At least one person died and more than 50 people were injured, including at least one foreigner, according to reports citing hospital sources. |
| ANALYSIS Vaudine England, BBC News, Bangkok | ANALYSIS Vaudine England, BBC News, Bangkok |
| Bangkok has been wired up for danger for days now. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said five M-79 grenades had been fired. Three fell through the roof of the Saladaeng Skytrain station, along Silom Road, the centre of Bangkok's business district, he said. | Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said five M-79 grenades had been fired. Three fell through the roof of the Saladaeng Skytrain station, along Silom Road, the centre of Bangkok's business district, he said. |
| A fourth exploded on the pavement near the five-star Dusit Thani Hotel and the fifth near a bank, he added. | A fourth exploded on the pavement near the five-star Dusit Thani Hotel and the fifth near a bank, he added. |
| He said the same type of grenade - fired from a shoulder-mounted launcher - had hit troops during bloody clashes with protesters that killed 25 people on 10 April. | He said the same type of grenade - fired from a shoulder-mounted launcher - had hit troops during bloody clashes with protesters that killed 25 people on 10 April. |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead, who is at the scene, says a group of a dozen or so people have walked through police lines and started throwing bottles and stones towards barricades manned by red-shirt protesters. | |
| The reds are firing fireworks into the air and police are watching, doing nothing to stop them, he says. | |
| Earlier, a military spokesman warned the red-shirt 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 protesters, who say they want new elections. | The government is under pressure to crack down on the protesters, who say they want new elections. |
| COLOUR-CODED PROTESTS Red-shirts Formally called the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD)Mostly poorer workers from rural areasMany are loyal to ousted PM Thaksin ShinawatraBelieve Mr Abhisit came to power illegally and want him to resign and call elections Yellow-shirts Known as the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy Loose coalition of mostly urban middle-class royalists and businessmenUnited by their hatred of Mr Thaksin who was ousted in 2006Occupied airports and official buildings in 2008, precipitating a political crisis Thailand's reds and yellows | |
| 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 volatile atmosphere in Bangkok has been recently heightened by pro-government protesters gathering in the city centre, waving Thai flags and hurling abuse and water bottles at the red-shirts. | |
| The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says there has been a series of unexplained grenade attacks in Bangkok in recent weeks, coinciding with the anti government demonstration - although protest leaders deny any involvement. | The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says there has been a series of unexplained grenade attacks in Bangkok in recent weeks, coinciding with the anti government demonstration - although protest leaders deny any involvement. |
| 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 crackdown, 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 |