29 dead and 221 injured over four days, Erawan Centre says
The sound of gunfire, bombs and grenades was heard throughout the day near sites where protesters and security officials clashed in central Bangkok yesterday as the government moved to end the marathon demonstration.
Columns of smoke rose over the heart of Bangkok as protesters set fire to tyres to block the visibility of armed forces and snipers, who they feared would target them from nearby high-rise buildings.
The death toll for the past four days as of press time yesterday was 29, with 221 others - including five foreigners - injured in street clashes since Thursday, according to the Erawan Medical Centre.
Protesters set fire to tyres on Rama IV Road in Bon Kai before noon, blocking traffic on the road again. At 3pm, unknown armed men launched M79 grenades into the area, prompting gunfire similar to a war zone.
Putthiping Chusaeng, a camera-man with the red-shirt People's Channel, was shot in the back but saved by a bullet-proof vest.
There was a riot at Din Daeng junction also, with protesters setting fire to tyres much of the day. Official trucks, police outposts and phone boxes were all set alight. The sounds of a gun battle was heard in the area for hours. More than 10 people were reportedly injured.
All the injured were "normal" protesters who claimed to be unarmed.
As the sound of gunfire stopped, a group of protesters set up a stage on the road between Din Daeng and Victory Monument. This allowed them to get up and make speeches criticising the government. Meanwhile many of them also put sand bags on the road to make bunkers.
The situation in Din Daeng was tense again in the evening when a 51-year-old protester, Saeng Art-montri, was injured by a gunshot. A round of gunfire lasted for minutes and ended with six people injured.
The government is trying to disperse red-shirt protesters from all areas, including the main site at Rajprasong by 3pm today.
The Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation announced a state of emergency in five more provinces in the Northeast where groups of red shirts protested against the government.
They were Ubon Ratchathani, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Nong Bua Lamphu and Sakon Nakhon.
Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn the authorities would continue the operation to retake areas held by protesters to maintain law and order as the protest was unlawful.
Red leader Nutthawut Saikua urged the government to call a cease-fire.
He said the red shirts were willing to negotiate but only with the United Nations as a mediator.
The government should stop its allegation of that they were 'terrorists' because the protesters were unarmed, he said.
However, Panitan said the protesters had no reason to demand them to stop the operation to disperse them.
"The government is demanding the protesters stop their activities. And the leaders should turn themselves in to face justice," he said.
The government would not accept intervention from any international organisations to end the crisis, he said.