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| Thai troops crack down on protest | Thai troops crack down on protest |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thailand's army has begun an operation to remove anti-government protesters blocking the centre of the capital Bangkok, sparking violent clashes. | Thailand's army has begun an operation to remove anti-government protesters blocking the centre of the capital Bangkok, sparking violent clashes. |
| At least 70 people were injured as hundreds of soldiers advanced against the crowd at a major road junction close to the landmark Victory Monument. | |
| Tear gas and bullets were fired as stones and petrol bombs were thrown. | Tear gas and bullets were fired as stones and petrol bombs were thrown. |
| As daylight broke, the city was still tense after what is the first serious clash in weeks of mass protests. | As daylight broke, the city was still tense after what is the first serious clash in weeks of mass protests. |
| Monday's clashes took place several kilometres from the prime minister's office where the protesters have their main encampment. | Monday's clashes took place several kilometres from the prime minister's office where the protesters have their main encampment. |
| The government will keep working to return peace and order to the country Abhisit Vejjajiva Thai prime minister class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7996312.stm"> In pictures: Thai crackdown | |
| Bangkok is tense with expectation this morning, the BBC's Alastair Leithead reports from another junction where troops have gathered in riot gear. | Bangkok is tense with expectation this morning, the BBC's Alastair Leithead reports from another junction where troops have gathered in riot gear. |
| There are stand-offs across the city as troops face protesters armed with sticks who have been setting fires, he says. | There are stand-offs across the city as troops face protesters armed with sticks who have been setting fires, he says. |
| The outcome of the confrontation depends very much on what tactics the troops employ, he adds. | The outcome of the confrontation depends very much on what tactics the troops employ, he adds. |
| Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier declared a state of emergency after the protesters, who mostly back ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, stopped a major Asian summit in Pattaya. | Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier declared a state of emergency after the protesters, who mostly back ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, stopped a major Asian summit in Pattaya. |
| Mr Thaksin has called for a "revolution" against the government. | Mr Thaksin has called for a "revolution" against the government. |
| 'Hundreds of rounds' | 'Hundreds of rounds' |
| Witnesses told the Associated Press news agency that troops had advanced against the protesters at the the Din Daeng intersection between 0400 and 0500 (2100 and 2200 GMT Sunday). | Witnesses told the Associated Press news agency that troops had advanced against the protesters at the the Din Daeng intersection between 0400 and 0500 (2100 and 2200 GMT Sunday). |
| Latest from Alastair Leithead on the streets of Bangkok | |
| This is one of the confrontation points in the centre of Bangkok. There's a long line of military, all with riot shields and batons, blocking a major intersection, and another row of soldiers without the shields but with pretty heavy weaponry. | |
| To the other side of me is a gang of maybe a hundred or so red-shirted protesters. They've just brought a bus in with more demonstrators to join the stand-off. There's about 100 metres between the two lines. | |
| The tactic the red-shirts are using across Bangkok is to put buses they have commandeered across roads, and to start fires. They've brought in a whole pile of rubber tyres and are lining them up, putting cardboard on them. So you've got these huge plumes of black smoke all around Bangkok. | |
| "The soldiers fired hundreds of rounds from their M-16 automatic rifles as they advanced, though it was unclear whether they were firing at, or over, the protesters," the agency says. | "The soldiers fired hundreds of rounds from their M-16 automatic rifles as they advanced, though it was unclear whether they were firing at, or over, the protesters," the agency says. |
| A Bangkok hospital doctor told the BBC News website that 74 people had been brought into hospital, most of them suffering abrasions but some with gunshot wounds. | |
| An army spokesman, Col Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, said about 400 soldiers had moved against some 300 protesters. | An army spokesman, Col Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, said about 400 soldiers had moved against some 300 protesters. |
| He accused protesters of driving a car at the soldiers and said troops had first fired into the air in response to tear gas and smoke bombs thrown at them by protesters. | He accused protesters of driving a car at the soldiers and said troops had first fired into the air in response to tear gas and smoke bombs thrown at them by protesters. |
| The soldiers then fired live rounds, he said. | The soldiers then fired live rounds, he said. |
| "We will start with soft measures and proceed to harder ones," the army spokesman told AFP news agency. | "We will start with soft measures and proceed to harder ones," the army spokesman told AFP news agency. |
| "We will avoid loss of life as instructed by the government." | "We will avoid loss of life as instructed by the government." |
| Call for calm | Call for calm |
| Earlier on Sunday, protesters broke into the interior ministry and at one point attacked a car they thought was carrying Prime Minister Abhisit. He was not inside. | Earlier on Sunday, protesters broke into the interior ministry and at one point attacked a car they thought was carrying Prime Minister Abhisit. He was not inside. |
| The whole capital is a series of riots Paulo, Bangkok Thai emergency: Your emails Send us your comments | The whole capital is a series of riots Paulo, Bangkok Thai emergency: Your emails Send us your comments |
| They blocked a number of busy road junctions and at least one railway, and took over buses and two armoured vehicles. | They blocked a number of busy road junctions and at least one railway, and took over buses and two armoured vehicles. |
| The collapse of the summit was a huge embarrassment to Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva and he has vowed to restore order, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. | The collapse of the summit was a huge embarrassment to Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva and he has vowed to restore order, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. |
| He appeared on TV just before midnight, called on the public not to panic and to co-operate to end the crisis. | He appeared on TV just before midnight, called on the public not to panic and to co-operate to end the crisis. |
| "In the next three to four days, the government will keep working to return peace and order to the country," he said. | "In the next three to four days, the government will keep working to return peace and order to the country," he said. |
| The camera panned to the commanders of the army, navy, air force and deputy police chief as he said: | The camera panned to the commanders of the army, navy, air force and deputy police chief as he said: |
| "I can confirm that the government and security agencies are still unified." | "I can confirm that the government and security agencies are still unified." |
| 'Time for revolution' | 'Time for revolution' |
| Mr Thaksin, who addresses his supporters by telephone from self-imposed exile abroad, called for a "revolution" on Sunday. | Mr Thaksin, who addresses his supporters by telephone from self-imposed exile abroad, called for a "revolution" on Sunday. |
| About 400 soldiers took part in the operation | About 400 soldiers took part in the operation |
| "Now that they have tanks on the streets, it is time for the people to come out in revolution," he said in a message shown on giant screens near the prime minister's office. | "Now that they have tanks on the streets, it is time for the people to come out in revolution," he said in a message shown on giant screens near the prime minister's office. |
| "And when it is necessary, I will come back to the country." | "And when it is necessary, I will come back to the country." |
| Under the state of emergency, gatherings of more than five people can be banned, media reports can be censored and the army can be deployed to help police maintain order. | Under the state of emergency, gatherings of more than five people can be banned, media reports can be censored and the army can be deployed to help police maintain order. |
| Last year, the government imposed a state of emergency on several occasions but the army refused to enact the measures. | Last year, the government imposed a state of emergency on several occasions but the army refused to enact the measures. |
| That crisis eventually led to Mr Abhisit's government taking over from allies of Mr Thaksin. | That crisis eventually led to Mr Abhisit's government taking over from allies of Mr Thaksin. |
| Our correspondent in Bangkok says the problem for Mr Abhisit is that he rode to power on the back of protests that were just as illegal, and may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him. | Our correspondent in Bangkok says the problem for Mr Abhisit is that he rode to power on the back of protests that were just as illegal, and may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. | The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. |