World

Bangkok: Two Killed in Clashes

by Christina 123 | October 7, 2008 at 01:03 pm

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IN continuing civil unrest in Bangkok, riot police have thrown tear gas and stun grenades into crowds of anti-government protestors from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). Two have been killed, a man in a car bomb and a female demonstrator, and more than 400 injured as the controversial government deemed illegal by the protestors have sent in military troops to quell the protests.

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades after a day of street battles with anti-government protesters on Tuesday in which two people were killed and nearly 400 were injured.

The military put troops on the streets to back up the police, but the unarmed soldiers showed no desire to disperse the thousands of demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

One man was killed by a car bomb and a female protester died as the PAD intensified its four-month campaign to unseat a government they say is the illegitimate puppet of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Army chief Anupong Paochinda denied rumours of a coup, two years after the military removed Thaksin in a bloodless putsch.

"People should not panic. Soldiers will not launch a coup since it will not be good for the country," he told reporters.

The clashes began shortly after dawn when police used tear gas to force a path through 5,000 PAD members blockading parliament to disrupt the opening session.

By nightfall, 381 people had been injured, 48 seriously, after the worst street violence since the army and pro-democracy activists fought in 1992.