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| Thai army calls for new elections | Thai army calls for new elections |
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| The head of Thailand's powerful army has asked the government to dissolve parliament and call new elections. | The head of Thailand's powerful army has asked the government to dissolve parliament and call new elections. |
| Gen Anupong Paochinda denied the move amounted to a coup, and also called on anti-government protesters to withdraw from Bangkok's international airport. | Gen Anupong Paochinda denied the move amounted to a coup, and also called on anti-government protesters to withdraw from Bangkok's international airport. |
| Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) took over the airport on Tuesday, stranding 3,000 passengers. | Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) took over the airport on Tuesday, stranding 3,000 passengers. |
| It was the PAD's most dramatic move so far after months of calling for the government to resign. | It was the PAD's most dramatic move so far after months of calling for the government to resign. |
| It is unclear where Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat now is - he was due to return to Thailand on Wednesday from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru. | It is unclear where Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat now is - he was due to return to Thailand on Wednesday from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru. |
| AIRPORT SYMBOL Building the new airport was former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's pet projectPlagued by delays, it opened in 2006, days after Mr Thaksin was overthrown in a military coupShoddy construction work was used by the military as one of the justifications for the coup Chaos at seized airportQ&A: Bangkok protests | AIRPORT SYMBOL Building the new airport was former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's pet projectPlagued by delays, it opened in 2006, days after Mr Thaksin was overthrown in a military coupShoddy construction work was used by the military as one of the justifications for the coup Chaos at seized airportQ&A: Bangkok protests |
| However, Gen Anupong said the government was still in control. | However, Gen Anupong said the government was still in control. |
| "This is not a coup," he told a news conference. | "This is not a coup," he told a news conference. |
| "The government still has full authority. These points are the way to solve the problem which has plunged the country into a deep crisis," Gen Anupong said. | "The government still has full authority. These points are the way to solve the problem which has plunged the country into a deep crisis," Gen Anupong said. |
| "If a coup could end all the troubles, I would do it," he added. | "If a coup could end all the troubles, I would do it," he added. |
| Evacuated | |
| Earlier, the head of the PAD, Sondhi Limthongul, said his group would only agree to talks if Mr Somchai resigned. | Earlier, the head of the PAD, Sondhi Limthongul, said his group would only agree to talks if Mr Somchai resigned. |
| Stranded international tourists have been evacuated from the airport. | |
| The protesters, who have also been occupying a government compound in the capital since August, claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy. | The protesters, who have also been occupying a government compound in the capital since August, claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy. |
| They also accuse it of being a proxy for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military 2006 coup, but who critics say is still very influential. | They also accuse it of being a proxy for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military 2006 coup, but who critics say is still very influential. |
| The PAD is a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle-class opposed to Mr Thaksin. | The PAD is a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle-class opposed to Mr Thaksin. |
| Their campaign has caused massive disruption to key state institutions, including parliament. | Their campaign has caused massive disruption to key state institutions, including parliament. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, says that the government appeared to have adopted a strategy of allowing the PAD to attack government buildings while avoiding clashes, in the hope that it could wear the protesters down. | The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok, says that the government appeared to have adopted a strategy of allowing the PAD to attack government buildings while avoiding clashes, in the hope that it could wear the protesters down. |
| Are you in Bangkok? Have you been affected by the anti-government protests? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you in Bangkok? Have you been affected by the anti-government protests? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |