Political Standoff Turns Bloody in Bangkok

Posted on Apr 22, 2010

AP via YouTube

The clash between the Thai establishment and anti-government “red shirt” protesters took a turn for the deadly on Thursday when a series of grenade explosions killed one person and wounded 75 in a Bangkok business district.

Los Angeles Times:

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told a nationwide television audience that the M-79 grenades, one of which was detonated near a hotel, another near a bank on Silom Road, originated in a Bangkok park occupied by protesters. But in the confusion it was not immediately clear who was responsible.

“The government wants to offer condolences to the wounded,” said Suthep, who asked people to leave the area for their safety. “We have assigned more troops to the area because we are concerned of more clashes.”

Anti-government demonstrators, known as “Red Shirts” for the color of their apparel, have occupied parts of downtown Bangkok for six weeks demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down, dissolve parliament and leave the country.

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AP via YouTube:

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