This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25168326
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Thailand protests: One killed by gunfire at clashes | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least one person has been killed and three wounded by gunfire after clashes broke out in the Thai capital Bangkok between rival protesters. | |
People heading to a pro-government rally were attacked by students, and later shots were fired. | |
Saturday is the seventh day of protests aiming to unseat the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. | Saturday is the seventh day of protests aiming to unseat the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. |
Protesters claim her government is controlled by her brother, exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. | Protesters claim her government is controlled by her brother, exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. |
He was ousted in a coup following protests in 2006 and now lives in self-imposed exile overseas. | He was ousted in a coup following protests in 2006 and now lives in self-imposed exile overseas. |
He is one of the most polarising figures in Thai politics - he remains popular with many rural voters, while his opponents tend to be urban and middle class voters. | He is one of the most polarising figures in Thai politics - he remains popular with many rural voters, while his opponents tend to be urban and middle class voters. |
On Saturday, what had been largely peaceful demonstrations turned violent outside a stadium where a pro-government rally has been confined during this week to avoid clashes with the anti-government protests moving around the city, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok. | On Saturday, what had been largely peaceful demonstrations turned violent outside a stadium where a pro-government rally has been confined during this week to avoid clashes with the anti-government protests moving around the city, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok. |
A group of students attacked vehicles bringing government supporters to the stadium - windows were smashed, and some minor injuries reported. | |
Later, shots were fired, but it is not clear yet by whom. | |
Police reinforcements were sent to the area and roads blocked, but skirmishes between the two sides continued for several hours. | |
Police have called for military backup to reinforce security in the city. | |
National police spokesman Piya Utayo said on Thai television that some 2,730 military personnel from the army, navy and air force will be deployed, AFP reports. | |
The government has been reluctant to risk deploying the military, which ousted Ms. Yingluck's brother in a coup seven years ago, but may no longer have a choice, our correspondent reports. | |
Tension is now rising in Bangkok as the anti-government movement prepares for what it calls a "people's revolt" - a mass occupation of government buildings all over Bangkok. | Tension is now rising in Bangkok as the anti-government movement prepares for what it calls a "people's revolt" - a mass occupation of government buildings all over Bangkok. |
There is a high risk of greater violence if more supporters of Ms Yingluck - whose party enjoys strong backing outside Bangkok - try to come to the capital, our correspondent adds. | |
'Protect democracy' | |
On Friday Ms Yingluck ruled out early elections, telling the BBC that the country was not calm enough for polls. | |
She repeated her call for negotiations to resolve the crisis. | |
Demonstrators have been surrounding and occupying official buildings this week in an attempt to disrupt the government. | |
On Friday at least 1,000 protesters forced their way into the army headquarters compound, but did not enter any buildings. | |
During the demonstrations, which had been largely peaceful until Saturday, participants have cut the electricity supply to the national police headquarters and forced the evacuation of Thailand's top crime-fighting agency. | |
Ms Yingluck has invoked special powers allowing curfews and road closures, and police have also ordered the arrest of protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban - but so far no move has been made to detain him. | |
The country is facing its largest protests since 2010, when thousands of "red-shirt" Thaksin supporters occupied key parts of the capital. More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died over the course of the two-month sit-in. | |
The proposed passage of a controversial political amnesty bill, which critics said would have facilitated the return of Thaksin without having to serve jail, reignited simmering political tensions. | |
The Senate rejected the bill, which sought to cover offences committed during the upheaval after Thaksin was removed from office. | |
Ms Yingluck said she accepted the vote and would not resubmit the legislation. |