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Tension grows over Thai blockade Tension grows over Thai blockade
(about 5 hours later)
Tension is growing in the Thai capital Bangkok as thousands of anti-government protesters occupied the city's two main airports for a sixth day. Tension is growing in the Thai capital Bangkok as thousands of anti-government protesters occupy the city's two main airports for a seventh day.
Police said they were negotiating with the group, as experts warned of soaring economic losses from the blockade. Police said they were negotiating with the group as experts warned of soaring economic losses from the blockade.
Some 100,000 passengers remain stranded in the Thai capital. Some countries are putting on flights to bring them home. Some 100,000 passengers remain stranded in Bangkok while efforts are being made to find alternative airports.
Demonstrators want the government to step down, accusing it of being corrupt and hostile to the monarchy. Meanwhile, thousands of government supporters held their first rally in the capital since the blockade began.
Fears of clashes between pro- and anti-government groups are growing, after a grenade attack in Bangkok. People were pushing and cutting into the line because they were afraid of missing their flights Farah Uddin BBC News website reader at U-Tapao relief airport
Saturday's late-night attack on protesters occupying a government compound injured about 50 people, three of them seriously. The opposition want the government to resign, accusing it of being corrupt, hostile to the monarchy and in league with exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
It is widely presumed to be retaliation for the airport occupation, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. Fears of clashes between pro- and anti-government groups have grown since a new grenade attack on opposition supporters in Bangkok on Saturday night, which injured about 50 people, three of them seriously.
And for the first time since the seizure, thousands of the government's own supporters have taken to the streets of Bangkok for a rally. So far the two sides have not encountered each other but there are fears of serious violence if they do, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok.
The red-shirted pro-government groups condemned the airport blockade and accused the protesters of economic sabotage. Bedding down
So far the two sides have not encountered each other but there are fears of serious violence if they do, our correspondent adds. There is little sign that the tens of thousands of tourists stranded in Bangkok will get home any time soon, the BBC's Quentin Somerville reports from Bangkok's international airport.
'Avoid confrontation'
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.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has authorised police to remove them, but police say that they will not use force.
"We are in a negotiation process. We want to avoid any violent confrontation. We will not use weapons," police spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said.
In pictures: Bangkok blockadeRead stranded tourists' accountsSend us your commentsIn pictures: Bangkok blockadeRead stranded tourists' accountsSend us your comments
On Sunday, police at the domestic airport, Don Mueang, issued a fresh order to protesters to leave the terminal. The check-in desks are empty and on the concourse floor lie hundreds of anti-government protesters, settling in for another night of occupation.
Similar orders have already been issued and ignored at both occupied airports and, say correspondents, few believe that police have the will to enforce them. They have bedding and plentiful supplies of food and water.
An estimated 100,000 passengers have been stranded by the seizures. Some travellers have been trying to get to smaller airports around the country, but these are being overwhelmed. Televisions and radios blast out speeches calling for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down.
Spain's government says it will send three planes later on Sunday to evacuate its citizens. Australian airline Qantas is also putting on a special flight from the resort island of Phuket, ABC news reports. He says he will not go but he has been unable to dislodge the protesters.
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. The army are against him and the police have so far proved ineffective, our correspondent says.
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 protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class.
More than 450 Muslim pilgrims stranded at the international airport were taken by bus on Sunday to a military base where they were to board a plane for the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia. "Obviously it hurts the economy, but it's the only way we can push out this government," PAD supporter Prathan Tandavanitj, 60, told Reuters news agency at the airport.
Our correspondent says there is an increasing risk of the civil conflict escalating in Thailand. Police say they want to avoid any violent confrontation and will not use weapons against the protesters at the capital's international and domestic airports.
There is growing anger among pro-government supporters over the failure of the police and army to back the elected prime minister. An opposition spokesperson said talks with the police were not about ending the protest but about "improving security".
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. In Bangkok, red-shirted pro-government demonstrators condemned the airport blockade and accused the protesters of economic sabotage.
One banner read: "We love Thaksin. He is our hero."
Trying to leave
Some travellers have been trying to get to smaller airports around the country, but these are being overwhelmed.
BBC News website reader Farah Uddin sent a picture of the queue at U-Tapao
A few airlines have been using an airport at the U-Tapao naval base, about 140km (90 miles) south-east of Bangkok.
But the authorities there are said to be overwhelmed with hundreds of passengers cramming into the small facility.
"There was only one X-ray machine, and the line for that was very long," said Farah Uddin, a BBC News website reader.
"People were pushing and cutting into the line because they were afraid of missing their flights."
More than 450 Muslim pilgrims stranded at the international airport were taken by bus to the base on Sunday where they were to board a plane for the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Spain and Australia have been arranging special flights to evacuate their citizens.
Thailand's tourist industry is losing an estimated $85m (£55.4m) per day, and the government warns that the number of foreign tourists arriving next year may halve, threatening one million jobs.
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