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| Thai army calls for new elections | Thai army calls for new elections |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| 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 called on anti-government protesters to withdraw from Bangkok's international airport. | Gen Anupong Paochinda denied the move amounted to a coup, and called on anti-government protesters to withdraw from Bangkok's international airport. |
| But the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) said it would not leave and a government spokesman told Reuters it also rejected the army's proposal. | |
| The PAD took over the airport on Tuesday after months of protests. | |
| See layout of Bangkok's airport | See layout of Bangkok's airport |
| Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who was due to return to Thailand on Wednesday from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru, was reported to have landed in the northern city of Chiang Mai. | Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who was due to return to Thailand on Wednesday from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru, was reported to have landed in the northern city of Chiang Mai. |
| POLITICAL TURMOIL September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in military coupFebruary 2008: Samak Sundaravej sworn in as prime ministerSeptember 2008: Protesters call for Mr Samak's resignation, saying he is a proxy for Thaksin9 September 2008: Mr Samak dismissed for violating conflict of interest law. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, becomes prime minister. October 2008: Thaksin given a two-year jail sentence for corruption in his absence Chaos at seized airportQ&A: Bangkok protests | POLITICAL TURMOIL September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in military coupFebruary 2008: Samak Sundaravej sworn in as prime ministerSeptember 2008: Protesters call for Mr Samak's resignation, saying he is a proxy for Thaksin9 September 2008: Mr Samak dismissed for violating conflict of interest law. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, becomes prime minister. October 2008: Thaksin given a two-year jail sentence for corruption in his absence Chaos at seized airportQ&A: Bangkok protests |
| He told reporters there that he had not yet made any decision on dissolving parliament, AFP news agency reports. | |
| Thailand has been in a state of political stalemate since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006. | Thailand has been in a state of political stalemate since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006. |
| Fresh elections at the end of 2007 failed to resolve the crisis, when a party made up of former allies of Mr Thaksin returned to power. | Fresh elections at the end of 2007 failed to resolve the crisis, when a party made up of former allies of Mr Thaksin returned to power. |
| 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. | |
| "If a coup could end all the troubles, I would do it." | |
| Evacuated | 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. | 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 Mr Thaksin, who critics say is still very influential. | They also accuse it of being a proxy for Mr Thaksin, 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. | |
| 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. |
| BANGKOK AIRPORT CLOSED Thousands of PAD protesters storm the airportProtesters seize the air traffic control tower and airport closedAt least 3,000 passengers stranded for 16 hours in terminal buildingLatest reports say terminal building has been evacuated | BANGKOK AIRPORT CLOSED Thousands of PAD protesters storm the airportProtesters seize the air traffic control tower and airport closedAt least 3,000 passengers stranded for 16 hours in terminal buildingLatest reports say terminal building has been evacuated |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| 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: |