This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/shots-fired-in-bangkok-protests
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Shots fired in Bangkok protests | Shots fired in Bangkok protests |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Shots have been fired in Bangkok in an apparent attack on anti-government protesters that wounded at least two people and raised tensions in Thailand's deepening political crisis. | Shots have been fired in Bangkok in an apparent attack on anti-government protesters that wounded at least two people and raised tensions in Thailand's deepening political crisis. |
| Most of the Thai capital remained unaffected on Wednesday by the latest wave of rallies. But the shooting was the latest in a string of sporadic violent incidents. Bangkok's emergency services office said one man was hit in the ankle and a woman was hit in the arm in the shooting, which occurred on a street leading to an upmarket shopping district that has been occupied since Monday by camping demonstrators trying to oust the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, and her government. | Most of the Thai capital remained unaffected on Wednesday by the latest wave of rallies. But the shooting was the latest in a string of sporadic violent incidents. Bangkok's emergency services office said one man was hit in the ankle and a woman was hit in the arm in the shooting, which occurred on a street leading to an upmarket shopping district that has been occupied since Monday by camping demonstrators trying to oust the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, and her government. |
| Sompong Pongsattha, a 56-year-old resident who witnessed the attack in the Pathumwan district, said about 30 gunshots were fired from an unknown location toward a protest barricade over the course of about two hours. He said only a few demonstrators were there at the time and the wounded woman had to be carried to another intersection to be taken to a hospital. | Sompong Pongsattha, a 56-year-old resident who witnessed the attack in the Pathumwan district, said about 30 gunshots were fired from an unknown location toward a protest barricade over the course of about two hours. He said only a few demonstrators were there at the time and the wounded woman had to be carried to another intersection to be taken to a hospital. |
| In another incident over Tuesday night a small explosive device was thrown into a residential compound owned by former Abhisit Vejjajiva, the previous prime minister, shattering windows and slightly damaging a roof, according to police colonel Chumpol Phumphuang and Abhisit's opposition Democrat party. No injuries were reported and Abhisit was not home at the time. | In another incident over Tuesday night a small explosive device was thrown into a residential compound owned by former Abhisit Vejjajiva, the previous prime minister, shattering windows and slightly damaging a roof, according to police colonel Chumpol Phumphuang and Abhisit's opposition Democrat party. No injuries were reported and Abhisit was not home at the time. |
| In the west of the city several people poured gasoline on a tour bus that had been used by protesters and set it ablze, police said. | In the west of the city several people poured gasoline on a tour bus that had been used by protesters and set it ablze, police said. |
| On Tuesday Yingluck insisted she would not quit while the protesters reiterated vows not to negotiate, leaving no way out in sight. "I've stressed many times I have a duty to act according to my responsibility after the dissolution of parliament," Yingluck saod. "I'd like to say right now I am not holding on [to my position] but I have to keep political stability. I'm doing my duty to preserve democracy." | |
| The protesters are boycotting the February poll because they know Yingluck's party would win as it did in 2011. Instead, they are calling for an unelected "people's council" to amend laws to fight corruption in politics, while an appointed prime minister would help administer the country for up to two years. | The protesters are boycotting the February poll because they know Yingluck's party would win as it did in 2011. Instead, they are calling for an unelected "people's council" to amend laws to fight corruption in politics, while an appointed prime minister would help administer the country for up to two years. |
| Suthep called on supporters Wednesday to shut down all government offices and cut water and electricity to the private residences of Yingluck and her cabinet "in the next two or three days." He also threatened to "detain" Yingluck, saying: "If they are still being obstinate, then we will capture them one by one because the people are not interested in fighting for years." | |
| Later on Wednesday the prime minister said elections due on 2 February would go ahead despite intense pressure for a postponement by her opponents. Yingluck had proposed to meet on Wednesday with rivals to discuss a proposal from the election commission for a delay but Suthep and the Democrat party refused to take part. | |
| After a meeting with members of her cabinet, candidates who registered for the poll and a top electoral official Yingluck said that there was no legal way for the election commission to delay the vote. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |