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| Tension grows over Thai blockade | Tension grows over Thai blockade |
| (3 days later) | |
| 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. | 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 Bangkok while efforts are being made to find alternative airports. | Some 100,000 passengers remain stranded in Bangkok while efforts are being made to find alternative airports. |
| Meanwhile, thousands of government supporters held their first rally in the capital since the blockade began. | Meanwhile, thousands of government supporters held their first rally in the capital since the blockade began. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Bedding down | Bedding down |
| 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. | 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. |
| In pictures: Bangkok blockadeRead stranded tourists' accountsSend us your comments | In pictures: Bangkok blockadeRead stranded tourists' accountsSend us your comments |
| The check-in desks are empty and on the concourse floor lie hundreds of anti-government protesters, settling in for another night of occupation. | The check-in desks are empty and on the concourse floor lie hundreds of anti-government protesters, settling in for another night of occupation. |
| They have bedding and plentiful supplies of food and water. | They have bedding and plentiful supplies of food and water. |
| Televisions and radios blast out speeches calling for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down. | Televisions and radios blast out speeches calling for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down. |
| He says he will not go but he has been unable to dislodge the protesters. | He says he will not go but he has been unable to dislodge the protesters. |
| The army are against him and the police have so far proved ineffective, our correspondent says. | The army are against him and the police have so far proved ineffective, our correspondent says. |
| The protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class. | The protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| An opposition spokesperson said talks with the police were not about ending the protest but about "improving security". | An opposition spokesperson said talks with the police were not about ending the protest but about "improving security". |
| In Bangkok, red-shirted pro-government demonstrators condemned the airport blockade and accused the protesters of economic sabotage. | 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." | One banner read: "We love Thaksin. He is our hero." |
| Trying to leave | Trying to leave |
| Some travellers have been trying to get to smaller airports around the country, but these are being overwhelmed. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |