Thai protesters storm airport

Tensions in Thailand escalated as protesters swarmned the Bangkok airport after a clash with government supporters.

Opponents of the Thai prime minister Somchai Wongsawat who is seen as an extension of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra shot at Somchai supporters in the capital. They are attempting to force the military to bring down the government in the same way they ousted Thaksin.

Military leaders in Thailand often act independently of the elected government, but Army commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda has vowed repeatedly not to stage a coup.


Thai protesters prepare for "final battle"

Anti government protesters in front of the departure terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkok in the early hours of Wednesday Nov. 26, 2008. Outbound flights at Suvarnabhumi International Airport were temporarily suspended at 9 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said, shortly before hundreds of demonstrators _ some masked and armed with metal rods _ broke through police lines and spilled into the passenger terminal. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

WELT ONLINE

Protesters swarm Thai airport, takeoffs suspended The Associated Press - 1 hour ago BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Protesters swarmed Thailand's main international airport Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of departing flights just hours after their comrades opened fire on government supporters in a clash on the streets of the capital. Thais Warn of Flight Chaos as Protesters Storm Bangkok Airport Bloomberg Protesters besiege airport in bid to oust Thai govt Reuters India

Thaksin to call supporters at Bangkok rally

Ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will give a phone call message Saturday evening at a rally of supporters of his political party in Bangkok.

Opposition to the current government claims that current Prime Minster Somchai Wongsawat is simply a proxy of Thaksin. Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law.

The political conflict involves Thaksin's mostly poor and rural supporters opposed by the educated urban elite.

Thailand braces for phone call from ousted PM The Associated Press - 4 hours ago BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand's military and police were on alert Saturday as the country braced for fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to speak by telephone at a rally that many fear could spark more political violence. Thousands join Thai anti-coup rally to hear Thaksin Reuters India Thailand's Thaksin to Phone In to Bangkok Stadium Rally Tonight Bloomberg

Middle class supporters rebel against Thai democracy

Opponents of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra called on the military to oust the current leader and his party in a military coup.

Army Commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda, however, promised not to intervene against Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat drawing sharp criticism for the general from the protesters.

In a counter demonstration, thousands of supporters of Somchai rallied near the office of the prime minister.

"We gathered today to show that the majority of this country objects to these rebels trampling on Thailand's democracy," said Veera Musigapong, one of the leaders of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship. "We want to show that they are destroying the country in the name of the Thai public."

Times Online
Supporters of Thai government rally near Bangkok
The Associated Press - 1 hour ago
"We gathered today to show that the majority of this country objects to these rebels trampling on Thailand's democracy," said Veera Musigapong, ...
Thailand's middle classes lead unlikely protest - against democracy Telegraph.co.uk
Thais want peace, but also better traffic, as protests drag on
AFP - 7 hours ago

Two dead, hundreds hurt in Thai protests

Two people were killed and more than 400 injured during protests against Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

Somchai is the brother-in-law and considered an extension of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in September 2006 military coup. Thaksin lives in exile in London.

The pro-royal alliance leading the protests says it wants to change the electoral system to disempower the rural poor who have supported the Somchai's ruling People Power Party.

The Age

Hundreds Injured in Thai Protests New York Times - 28 minutes ago By SETH MYDANS and THOMAS FULLER BANGKOK - Thailand’s political crisis worsened Tuesday when antigovernment protesters trapped lawmakers inside the Parliament building and fought running battles with the police that left one person dead and nearly 400 ... Video: Raw Video: Tear Gas Fired at Thai Protestors AssociatedPress 2 dead, 380 injured in Bangkok PRESS TV

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