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Thai PM vows peaceful siege end Thai police confront protesters
(about 4 hours later)
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has promised to use peaceful means to end the blockades that have paralysed Bangkok's airports for several days. Protesters have forced Thai police to abandon a checkpoint as the authorities try to end a blockade of Bangkok's airports that has lasted several days.
In a televised address, Mr Somchai said the stand-offs with anti-government demonstrators would be resolved by negotiation, but did not say when. The confrontation at Suvarnabhumi international airport, which came as police tried to prevent more protesters arriving, ended without violence.
A protest leader rejected the idea of talks. More protesters have evaded road blocks to arrive at the two airports. The police have said they will continue trying to regain control of the sites.
Police reinforcements have also moved into position at the airports. But the protesters say they will not leave until PM Somchai Wongsawat resigns, which he has refused to do.
A state of emergency has been declared at both Suvarnabhumi international airport and the smaller Don Mueang airport, which the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have taken over. A state of emergency has been declared at both Suvarnabhumi and the smaller, domestic Don Mueang airport, which the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have taken over.
The PAD say they will not leave until Mr Somchai resigns, which he has refused to do, and have indicated they are ready for a prolonged siege. In a televised address on Friday, Mr Somchai promised a peaceful end to the situation, saying the stand-offs with anti-government demonstrators would be resolved by negotiation.
In his brief televised address, Mr Somchai said: "Do not be concerned. The security forces will use peaceful means. There will be negotiations and whatever else is appropriate in the situation." However, protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul, told supporters he would not negotiate despite a personal plea from the prime minister to hold talks.
But Sondhi Limthongkul, the founder of the protest movement, told supporters he would not negotiate despite a personal plea from the prime minister to hold talks. Police reinforcements have moved into position at the airports, where at least 2,000 protesters have dug in behind barricades and barbed wire.
DemotionDemotion
On Friday, police ordered protesters occupying Bangkok's domestic Don Mueang airport to leave, as tensions mounted there over the continuing demonstrations. Thousands of travellers remain stranded in Bangkok as a result of the blockade, which officials say is costing the country's economy millions of dollars every day.
The protesters say they do not want to negotiate with the authorities It followed news of the demotion of the country's chief of police to what officials said was an "inactive post" in the prime minister's office.
No official reason was given for Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwanbut's demotion, but government spokesman Nattawut Saikuar suggested to Thai TV that it was in connection with the protest crisis.
Thousands of travellers are stranded in Bangkok as a result of the airport sit-ins.
Airlines started flying passengers out of a naval airbase 150km (90 miles) from the city on Friday but reports suggested that confusion and delays continued.Airlines started flying passengers out of a naval airbase 150km (90 miles) from the city on Friday but reports suggested that confusion and delays continued.
Mr Somchai will remain in Chiang Mai indefinitely for his own safetyOn Friday, police ordered protesters occupying Bangkok's domestic Don Mueang airport to leave, as tensions mounted there over the continuing demonstrations.
It followed news of the demotion of the country's chief of police to what officials said was an "inactive post" in the prime minister's office.
No official reason was given for Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwanbut's demotion, but government spokesman Nattawut Saikuar suggested to Thai TV that it was in connection with the protest crisis.
Police have not yet moved to break up the protests but have said they are prepared to take "other steps" if negotiations fail.Police have not yet moved to break up the protests but have said they are prepared to take "other steps" if negotiations fail.
Government spokesman Nattawut Sai-Kau said police had been instructed to "do whatever is necessary to open the airports on the basis of non-violence".Government spokesman Nattawut Sai-Kau said police had been instructed to "do whatever is necessary to open the airports on the basis of non-violence".
Meanwhile, the government said that Mr Somchai would remain in the northern city of Chiang Mai indefinitely for his own safety.Meanwhile, the government said that Mr Somchai would remain in the northern city of Chiang Mai indefinitely for his own safety.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Bangkok says that Mr Somchai has already lost the confidence of his army chief, Gen Anupong Paochinda, and rumours of a coup are circling in the capital.The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Bangkok says that Mr Somchai has already lost the confidence of his army chief, Gen Anupong Paochinda, and rumours of a coup are circling in the capital.
TurmoilTurmoil
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.
The PAD - a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy.The PAD - a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - claim that the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy.
They have occupied a government complex in Bangkok for months, and declared at the beginning of this week that they were embarking on the "final battle" of their campaign to unseat the government.They have occupied a government complex in Bangkok for months, and declared at the beginning of this week that they were embarking on the "final battle" of their campaign to unseat the government.
Correspondents say the airport protesters appear increasingly isolated and are losing the support of their traditional sympathisers, the business elite.Correspondents say the airport protesters appear increasingly isolated and are losing the support of their traditional sympathisers, the business elite.
The airport closure will cost the country around $4bn (£2.6bn) in lost business and cause serious damage to its reputation as a tourist destination, something from which it will take the country years to recover, say analysts.The airport closure will cost the country around $4bn (£2.6bn) in lost business and cause serious damage to its reputation as a tourist destination, something from which it will take the country years to recover, say analysts.
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