Thursday, August 28, 2008

Thai govt vows no crackdown on protesters

Thai protesters defied a court order as they continued to occupy a government compound. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej promised not to use force against the demonstrators.

The protests largely pit the supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup, against opposition forces dominated by royalists.

Opposition forces see Samak and his allies as puppets of Shinawatra, who lives in exile in Britain.



BBC News

Thai PM vows 'no showdown' as protesters dig in
AFP - 58 minutes ago
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's embattled prime minister vowed Thursday to end massive rallies against his rule without force -- raising the spectre of a prolonged siege of Bangkok's main government compound.
Thais speak out on protests BBC News
Thai protesters defy court order to leave compound The Associated Press