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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Thai police confront protesters | Thai police confront protesters |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The confrontation at Suvarnabhumi international airport, which came as police tried to prevent more protesters arriving, ended without violence. | The confrontation at Suvarnabhumi international airport, which came as police tried to prevent more protesters arriving, ended without violence. |
| The police have said they will continue trying to regain control of the sites. | The police have said they will continue trying to regain control of the sites. |
| But the protesters say they will not leave until PM Somchai Wongsawat resigns, which he has refused to do. | 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 and the smaller, domestic 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. |
| 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 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. |
| However, protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul, told supporters he would not negotiate despite a personal plea from the prime minister to hold talks. | However, protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul, 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. | Police reinforcements have moved into position at the airports, where at least 2,000 protesters have dug in behind barricades and barbed wire. |
| One police officer was detained by PAD supporters on Saturday morning and taken inside Suvarnabhumi airport "for questioning", Bangkok's The Nation newspaper reports. | One police officer was detained by PAD supporters on Saturday morning and taken inside Suvarnabhumi airport "for questioning", Bangkok's The Nation newspaper reports. |
| Demotion | Demotion |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 safety | Mr Somchai will remain in Chiang Mai indefinitely for his own safety |
| On Friday, police ordered protesters occupying Bangkok's domestic Don Mueang airport to leave, as tensions mounted there over the continuing demonstrations. | On 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Mr Nattawut said police had been instructed to "do whatever is necessary to open the airports on the basis of non-violence". | Mr Nattawut 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. |
| Turmoil | Turmoil |
| Thailand has been in political turmoil since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006.Advertisement | |
| Protests continue at Thai airport | |
| 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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