Thai troops face anti-government protesters

Shots have been heard in the Thai capital, Bangkok, where soldiers have moved to disperse anti-government protesters at a major junction.

A Reuters reporter on the Viphavadi-Rangsit thoroughfare saw protesters hurling stones and retreating into side streets as troops advanced.

Fires could be seen in the middle of the road, which is close to the landmark Victory Monument.

The army confirmed it was acting to disperse the protest.

"The soldiers have begun the operation to disperse the protesters at Din Daeng intersection," spokesman Col Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told the AFP news agency.

"We will start with soft measures and proceed to harder ones. We will avoid loss of life as instructed by the government."

He estimated there were around 300 protesters at the site.

The Thai authorities earlier declared a state of emergency after protests which stopped a major Asian summit in Pattaya.