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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Police clash with Thai protesters | Police clash with Thai protesters |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scuffles have broken out in the Thai capital, Bangkok, between police and protesters occupying the main government buildings. | Scuffles have broken out in the Thai capital, Bangkok, between police and protesters occupying the main government buildings. |
| The minor clashes broke out after police tried to serve a court order for the eviction of the demonstrators. | The minor clashes broke out after police tried to serve a court order for the eviction of the demonstrators. |
| But police have not actually tried to evict the protesters, and the four-day-old stalemate continues. | But police have not actually tried to evict the protesters, and the four-day-old stalemate continues. |
| The protesters say they will not leave until the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej resigns. | The protesters say they will not leave until the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej resigns. |
| They say Mr Samak is a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and is now in exile to avoid facing trial over corruption charges. | They say Mr Samak is a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and is now in exile to avoid facing trial over corruption charges. |
| The demonstrations have been organised by a group calling itself the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - formed three years ago as a movement to force Mr Thaksin out of office. | The demonstrations have been organised by a group calling itself the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - formed three years ago as a movement to force Mr Thaksin out of office. |
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| Protesters tussle with police in Bangkok | Protesters tussle with police in Bangkok |
| There was added pressure on Friday as rail workers went on strike in support of the protests and to demand better work conditions. | There was added pressure on Friday as rail workers went on strike in support of the protests and to demand better work conditions. |
| Service has been disrupted on lines from Bangkok to the country's north-east, stranding thousands of passengers. | Service has been disrupted on lines from Bangkok to the country's north-east, stranding thousands of passengers. |
| Stalemate | Stalemate |
| More than 30,000 people joined the initial protests on Tuesday, and several thousand are still barricaded in Government House. | More than 30,000 people joined the initial protests on Tuesday, and several thousand are still barricaded in Government House. |
| Many are armed with makeshift weapons, including golf clubs and bamboo sticks, and some have formed a human chain around the group's top leaders. | |
| Despite increasingly insanitary conditions, they insist they will remain there until Mr Samak resigns. Most of the protesters are spending the time seated on plastic sheeting, clapping and cheering speeches by the group's leaders. | |
| Police armed with batons and shields went into the compound early on Friday to post the court order on lamp posts and gates. Witnesses said teargas was fired but police denied it. | Police armed with batons and shields went into the compound early on Friday to post the court order on lamp posts and gates. Witnesses said teargas was fired but police denied it. |
| "We are trying to deal with the protesters as gently as possible. We are persuading them to leave the compound and will not do anything to those who follow the court order," police spokesman Surapol Thuanthong told reporters. | "We are trying to deal with the protesters as gently as possible. We are persuading them to leave the compound and will not do anything to those who follow the court order," police spokesman Surapol Thuanthong told reporters. |
| Q&A: Bangkok protestsRifts behind the political crisisIn pictures: Thai stand-off | |
| While it was clearly not a full-scale assault, it was still the most robust action by the authorities since the demonstrations began four days ago, according to the BBC correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head. | |
| Until now, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has promised what he calls a "soft and gentle" approach, and has won praise for his restraint in the local press. | |
| But he has just appointed a more hard-line deputy police commissioner to command the units outside Government House. | |
| According to our correspondent, this could perhaps be a sign that his patience with the protesters is running out. | |
| Anti-Thaksin | |
| The PAD was originally formed in the months before the 2006 coup, to demand Mr Thaksin's resignation. | The PAD was originally formed in the months before the 2006 coup, to demand Mr Thaksin's resignation. |
| It has re-emerged now that the country is being led by his former ally Mr Samak. | It has re-emerged now that the country is being led by his former ally Mr Samak. |
| The PAD also objects to Mr Samak's plans to amend the constitution. | The PAD also objects to Mr Samak's plans to amend the constitution. |
| Mr Samak has vowed not to bow to the PAD demands for his resignation. He points out he was legitimately elected last December, and correspondents say he remains popular with Thailand's rural majority. | Mr Samak has vowed not to bow to the PAD demands for his resignation. He points out he was legitimately elected last December, and correspondents say he remains popular with Thailand's rural majority. |
| Have you witnessed the protests? Are you taking part? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you witnessed the protests? Are you taking part? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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