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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 'Emergency rule at Thai airports' | 'Emergency rule at Thai airports' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Thailand's government says it will declare a state of emergency at Bangkok's two main airports, which have been taken over by protesters. | Thailand's government says it will declare a state of emergency at Bangkok's two main airports, which have been taken over by protesters. |
| Ministers told reporters after an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the intensifying political crisis. | |
| Anti-government protesters have shut down all civilian air traffic to Bangkok, leaving passengers stranded. | |
| Reports say Bangkok is awash with rumours of an impending military coup after months of political stand-off. | Reports say Bangkok is awash with rumours of an impending military coup after months of political stand-off. |
| On Wednesday Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat rejected a call by army leader Gen Anupong Paochinda for new elections to end the political deadlock. | On Wednesday Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat rejected a call by army leader Gen Anupong Paochinda for new elections to end the political deadlock. |
| The prime minister says his government is legitimate and that he will continue to work for the country. | The prime minister says his government is legitimate and that he will continue to work for the country. |
| But the government has been reluctant to confront protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who are demanding not only the overthrow of the current government but an overhaul of Thailand's entire political system. | But the government has been reluctant to confront protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who are demanding not only the overthrow of the current government but an overhaul of Thailand's entire political system. |
| Emergency rule? | Emergency rule? |
| Mr Somchai was forced to hold the cabinet meeting in the northern city of Chiang Mai after protests at both of Bangkok's main airports prevented him flying into the capital on his return from a summit in Peru. See layout of Bangkok's international airport | Mr Somchai was forced to hold the cabinet meeting in the northern city of Chiang Mai after protests at both of Bangkok's main airports prevented him flying into the capital on his return from a summit in Peru. See layout of Bangkok's international airport |
| Speaking afterwards, cabinet sources said emergency rule - which would empower the government to deploy the military and suspend certain civil liberties in order to restore order - would be imposed in the airport zones. | Speaking afterwards, cabinet sources said emergency rule - which would empower the government to deploy the military and suspend certain civil liberties in order to restore order - would be imposed in the airport zones. |
| But it is unclear whether the army will now take over from the police the job of imposing order. | But it is unclear whether the army will now take over from the police the job of imposing order. |
| The [ruling party]'s strategy for months now has been to turn the other cheek to the PAD's provocations Jonathan Head BBC correspondent in Bangkok In pictures: Thai crisisThailand teeters on the brink Earlier, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok said such an attempt to draft in the army would be very difficult, given that the army chief has called for the government to stand down. | The [ruling party]'s strategy for months now has been to turn the other cheek to the PAD's provocations Jonathan Head BBC correspondent in Bangkok In pictures: Thai crisisThailand teeters on the brink Earlier, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok said such an attempt to draft in the army would be very difficult, given that the army chief has called for the government to stand down. |
| He says the atmosphere in Bangkok is increasingly jittery, with mounting rumours that a coup attempt may be launched after the army brought tanks into forward positions in the city. Gen Anupong has, however, denied any coup plot. | He says the atmosphere in Bangkok is increasingly jittery, with mounting rumours that a coup attempt may be launched after the army brought tanks into forward positions in the city. Gen Anupong has, however, denied any coup plot. |
| The government has urged Thai troops to stay in their barracks. | The government has urged Thai troops to stay in their barracks. |
| The announcement that a limited state of emergency will be imposed comes after the PAD protesters forced the closure of Bangkok's domestic airport, Don Mueang. | The announcement that a limited state of emergency will be imposed comes after the PAD protesters forced the closure of Bangkok's domestic airport, Don Mueang. |
| They had already occupied Suvarnabhumi international airport. | They had already occupied Suvarnabhumi international airport. |
| Thailand has been in political turmoil since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006. | Thailand has been in political turmoil 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. |
| And since August PAD protesters have launched an all-out assault on the government, occupying government buildings and seeing former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej forced out of office, though on an apparently unrelated matter. | And since August PAD protesters have launched an all-out assault on the government, occupying government buildings and seeing former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej forced out of office, though on an apparently unrelated matter. |
| Protesters confident | Protesters confident |
| Correspondents say the government's reluctance to use force against the protesters has given them increasing confidence. | Correspondents say the government's reluctance to use force against the protesters has given them increasing confidence. |
| 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 They have ignored a court order to vacate the international airport, and have brought in food and blankets in apparent preparation for a long stay. | 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 They have ignored a court order to vacate the international airport, and have brought in food and blankets in apparent preparation for a long stay. |
| All flights have been cancelled and thousands of Thais and foreign tourists are stranded. | All flights have been cancelled and thousands of Thais and foreign tourists are stranded. |
| On Thursday, the Associated Press quoted Tourism Minister Weerasak Kohsurat as saying stranded passengers with "urgent needs" could be flown out of military bases around Bangkok. | On Thursday, the Associated Press quoted Tourism Minister Weerasak Kohsurat as saying stranded passengers with "urgent needs" could be flown out of military bases around Bangkok. |
| The blockade comes at the height of the tourist season and threatens an industry which is one of the country's biggest earners. | The blockade comes at the height of the tourist season and threatens an industry which is one of the country's biggest earners. |
| The campaign by the PAD, which began in earnest in May, has paralysed the Thai government. | The campaign by the PAD, which began in earnest in May, has paralysed the Thai government. |
| The group - a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy. | The group - a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy. |
| They also accuse it of being a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who remains very popular among Thailand's rural poor. | They also accuse it of being a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who remains very popular among Thailand's rural poor. |
| BANGKOK AIRPORT CLOSED Thousands of PAD protesters storm the airport Protesters seize the air traffic control tower and airport closed At least 3,000 passengers stranded for 16 hours in terminal building Latest reports say terminal building has been evacuated | BANGKOK AIRPORT CLOSED Thousands of PAD protesters storm the airport Protesters seize the air traffic control tower and airport closed At least 3,000 passengers stranded for 16 hours in terminal building Latest 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: |