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| Thai protesters shut down airport | Thai protesters shut down airport |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Flights from Thailand's international airport have been suspended after hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed the building in Bangkok. | Flights from Thailand's international airport have been suspended after hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed the building in Bangkok. |
| At least 3,000 passengers are said to be stranded at Suvarnabhumi airport, with all access roads blocked off. | At least 3,000 passengers are said to be stranded at Suvarnabhumi airport, with all access roads blocked off. |
| The demonstrators are now reportedly in the control tower, and say airlines must seek their permission to land. | |
| It is the latest move in a campaign by the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to oust the government. | It is the latest move in a campaign by the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to oust the government. |
| Hundreds of masked demonstrators, carrying huge Thai flags and makeshift weapons, stormed through police lines on Tuesday. | |
| Airport director Serirat Prasutanon said operations had been "totally shut down" since early on Wednesday, and that 78 outbound and incoming flights had been affected. | Airport director Serirat Prasutanon said operations had been "totally shut down" since early on Wednesday, and that 78 outbound and incoming flights had been affected. |
| The incident has damaged Thailand's reputation and its economy beyond repair Airport director Serirat Prasutanon In pictures: Bangkok clashesQ&A: Bangkok protests | |
| "We are trying to negotiate with them to allow outgoing passengers stranded by the protest to fly," he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. | "We are trying to negotiate with them to allow outgoing passengers stranded by the protest to fly," he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. |
| "The incident has damaged Thailand's reputation and its economy beyond repair." | "The incident has damaged Thailand's reputation and its economy beyond repair." |
| One stranded tourist told the BBC: "I don't know what happened to my flight. They won't talk to us. I'm angry and sad, because I have two small children - they're sick, so we want to go home." | One stranded tourist told the BBC: "I don't know what happened to my flight. They won't talk to us. I'm angry and sad, because I have two small children - they're sick, so we want to go home." |
| Some British holidaymakers are among those stranded in "no-man's land" at the airport, said a spokesman for the UK Foreign Office. | Some British holidaymakers are among those stranded in "no-man's land" at the airport, said a spokesman for the UK Foreign Office. |
| Having passed through immigration control, they are now stuck without planes to board. | Having passed through immigration control, they are now stuck without planes to board. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that shutting down the gateway to Thailand's vital tourist industry is the most dramatic and disruptive action so far by the PAD. | |
| The protest leaders initially hoped to intercept Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat as he returned from an overseas trip; however his flight will be diverted to another airport. | |
| Now the PAD says it will keep the airport closed until Mr Somchai resigns. | Now the PAD says it will keep the airport closed until Mr Somchai resigns. |
| Thinly veiled tactic | Thinly veiled tactic |
| There have been a number of small bomb explosions both at the airport and elsewhere in the capital, and about a dozen people have been injured. | |
| Earlier, demonstrations in central Bangkok turned violent, leaving at least 11 people injured. | |
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| Anti-government supporters were seen firing shots - Footage courtesy of TPBS | |
| Thai TPBS television broadcast pictures of the violence on the main road to the capital's old airport. The footage showed shots being fired from a truck into crowds after rocks were thrown. | Thai TPBS television broadcast pictures of the violence on the main road to the capital's old airport. The footage showed shots being fired from a truck into crowds after rocks were thrown. |
| At least two handguns could be seen and people standing with the gunmen raised up a picture of the revered Thai king, whom the PAD claim to be supporting. | At least two handguns could be seen and people standing with the gunmen raised up a picture of the revered Thai king, whom the PAD claim to be supporting. |
| A man was also seized by anti-government supporters and what appeared to be a large knife was held to his throat. | A man was also seized by anti-government supporters and what appeared to be a large knife was held to his throat. |
| TPBS said its cameraman had been threatened at the scene and that PAD personnel attempted to seize his tape. | TPBS said its cameraman had been threatened at the scene and that PAD personnel attempted to seize his tape. |
| On Monday, PAD protesters converged on Bangkok's old Don Muang international airport, from where the cabinet has been operating since its offices were occupied three months ago. | On Monday, PAD protesters converged on Bangkok's old Don Muang international airport, from where the cabinet has been operating since its offices were occupied three months ago. |
| Organisers say the protest is a "final battle" to bring down the government. | Organisers say the protest is a "final battle" to bring down the government. |
| Our correspondent says the government appears to have followed a strategy of allowing PAD to attack government buildings while avoiding clashes, in the hope that it will wear the protesters down. | Our correspondent says the government appears to have followed a strategy of allowing PAD to attack government buildings while avoiding clashes, in the hope that it will wear the protesters down. |
| The government has so far resisted calling in the army. Analysts says it is a thinly disguised aim of the PAD to provoke such a move. | The government has so far resisted calling in the army. Analysts says it is a thinly disguised aim of the PAD to provoke such a move. |
| Are you in Bangkok? Have you been affected by the protests? Has the airport closure disrupted your travel plans? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in Bangkok? Have you been affected by the protests? Has the airport closure disrupted your travel plans? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |