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No relief for Thailand tourists Tensions rise over Thai blockade
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of anti-government protesters continue to occupy two airports in the Thai capital, Bangkok, for a sixth day. Tensions continued to rise in Bangkok as thousands of anti-government protesters occupied the city's two main airports for a sixth day.
An estimated 100,000 passengers have been stranded by the occupations at the international and domestic airports. Police said they were negotiating with a group, as officials warned of soaring economic losses from the blockade.
The closures have affected Thailand's tourist industry, with the loss of millions of dollars of revenue. Some 100,000 passengers remain stranded in the Thai capital. Some countries are putting on flights to bring them home.
Spain's government says it will send three planes later on Sunday to evacuate its citizens, who plan a protest outside their embassy. Demonstrators want the government to step down, accusing it of being corrupt and hostile to the monarchy.
They want the Spanish government to provide more help to them in getting home. Fears of violence between pro- and anti-government groups are growing, after a grenade attack in Bangkok.
There are hundreds of Britons among the crowds of stranded passengers. Saturday's late-night attack on protesters who have been occupying a government compound since August injured about 50 people, three of them seriously.
Some of the travellers have been trying to get to smaller airports around the country, but these are being overwhelmed. It is widely presumed to be retaliation for the airport occupation, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
The Thai government says it will spend some $30 million (£19.5m) over the next month to help stranded tourists, including giving them free hotel rooms and daily expenses. Pro-government groups are said to be planning a rally in the capital later in the day.
Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat said the number of foreign tourists arriving next year was expected to drop by half, to 6m, threatening 1m jobs which are directly or indirectly dependant on tourism. 'Avoid confrontation'
Government supporters Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - have been been occupying Bangkok's international and domestic airports for almost a week.
Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been in Suvarnabhumi international airport since Tuesday and Don Mueang domestic airport since Wednesday. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has authorised police to remove them, but police say that they will not use force.
About 2,000 police, some armed, were deployed on Sunday to set up four more checkpoints on the road to Suvarnabhumi, airport security commander Major General Rarshane Reunkomol told AFP news agency. "We are in a negotiation process. We want to avoid any violent confrontation. We will not use weapons," police spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said.Advertisement
A rally by pro-government supporters may be held in Bangkok later on Sunday. Protesters occupy Bangkok's international airport
BBC correspondent Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there was an increasing risk of the civil conflict escalating. An estimated 100,000 passengers have been stranded by the airport seizures. Some travellers have been trying to get to smaller airports around the country, but these are being overwhelmed.
In the early hours of Sunday, about 50 people were injured in a grenade attack on protesters who have been occupying the prime minister's office in Bangkok since August. Three people were said to be in a serious condition. Spain's government says it will send three planes later on Sunday to evacuate its citizens. Australian airline Quantas is also putting on a special flight from the resort island of Phuket, ABC news reports.
There was growing anger among pro-government supporters over the failure of the police and army to back the elected prime minister, our correspondent adds. The closures have hit Thailand's tourist industry hard, with the loss of millions of dollars of revenue. The Federation of Thai Industries estimates that the blockade is costing the country up to $85m (£55.4m) per day.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, seen by the protesters as an ally of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has refused to resign in the face of the protests. It is also expected to have a knock-on effect. Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat said the number of foreign tourists arriving next year was expected to drop by half, threatening one million jobs.
The PAD - a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - say the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy. Growing anger
BBC correspondent Jonathan Head, who is in Bangkok, says there is an increasing risk of the civil conflict escalating.
There is growing anger among pro-government supporters over the failure of the police and army to back the elected prime minister.
They are planning to rally in Bangkok later in the day, risking possible confrontation with the PAD supporters.
Mr Somchai, seen by the protesters as an ally of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has refused to resign in the face of the protests.
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