Thai army deployed to quell anti-govt protests

BANGKOK – Thailand yesterday deployed troops to quell anti-government protests in Bangkok that left at least 278 people hurt as months of political turmoil boiled over into violence, officials said.

There were scenes of chaos outside Bangkok’s parliament as police fired tear gas into the crowd of thousands, sending bloody protesters fleeing, while angry mobs tried to overturn police vehicles, an AFP correspondent saw. Two Thai police officers were shot and wounded in the unrest, witnesses said, which capped months of demonstrations aimed at removing Thailand’s elected government because of its ties to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.A man was killed in a car bombing near the protest site.Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat – who has only been in his position for three weeks – said he would not declare a state of emergency or resign as the protests escalated.Government medical officials said 21 people had suffered serious injuries as police tried to disperse several thousand protesters surrounding parliament to try to prevent Somchai from giving his first policy speech.The address went ahead but the special parliamentary session ended after two hours and protesters blockaded lawmakers inside, forcing Somchai and five aides to climb over a fence to escape the mob, an AFP correspondent said.At about 16h15, police fired off a third rally of tear gas to disperse about 8 000 protesters and create an exit for the trapped politicians, who hurried out of the building The political turmoil began here in late May when protesters launched their campaign to overthrow the government because of its ties to Thaksin, who was ousted in a September 2006 coup.Two Thai police officers were shot and wounded in the unrest, witnesses said, which capped months of demonstrations aimed at removing Thailand’s elected government because of its ties to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.A man was killed in a car bombing near the protest site.Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat – who has only been in his position for three weeks – said he would not declare a state of emergency or resign as the protests escalated.Government medical officials said 21 people had suffered serious injuries as police tried to disperse several thousand protesters surrounding parliament to try to prevent Somchai from giving his first policy speech.The address went ahead but the special parliamentary session ended after two hours and protesters blockaded lawmakers inside, forcing Somchai and five aides to climb over a fence to escape the mob, an AFP correspondent said.At about 16h15, police fired off a third rally of tear gas to disperse about 8 000 protesters and create an exit for the trapped politicians, who hurried out of the building The political turmoil began here in late May when protesters launched their campaign to overthrow the government because of its ties to Thaksin, who was ousted in a September 2006 coup.