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BANGKOK-Anti-government demonstrators vowing a "final stand" unless the government resigns fought bloody street battles with troops Monday, then clashed with residents angry about the disruptions, killing two people.During the day, troops drove back rampaging protesters with warning shots from automatic weapons, and by nightfall clashes that gripped several parts of the city, wounding 113 people, had ebbed. But as the demonstrators tried to make their way back to their base, deadly fighting erupted between them and residents.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva praised the efforts of security forces, saying they used "soft means" and "prevented as much damage as possible," though ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra-the man most protesters consider their leader-accused the military of covering up the number of people killed in the day's battles.Abhisit said the news that two people had been killed and 12 wounded in a gunbattle between protesters and residents at Nang Lerng market was "a regrettable incident." But he said that "with the cooperation of the public, I believe success (in restoring peace) is near."Political tensions have simmered since 2006 when Thaksin was ousted by a military coup amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power. He remains popular in the impoverished countryside for his populist policies.Since then, political tensions have run high between his supporters, known as "red shirts," and the so-called "yellow shirts," a mix of royalists, academics, professionals and retired military who oppose the former prime minister.Last year, the yellow shirts shut down Bangkok's two main airports, ending their demonstrations when a court disqualified the pro-Thaksin prime minister for electoral fraud and Abhisit was appointed prime minister.The red shirts took to the streets last month, using tactics similar to those of their rivals last year. They accuse the country's elite-the military, judiciary and other unelected officials-of interfering in politics,and are seeking Thaksin's rehabilitation. Their numbers grew to 100,000 in Bangkok last week....2 Killed as Thai Protestors Clash With Angry Residents
BANGKOK-Anti-government demonstrators vowing a "final stand" unless the government resigns fought bloody street battles with troops Monday, then clashed with residents angry about the disruptions, killing two people.During the day, troops drove back rampaging protesters with warning shots from automatic weapons, and by nightfall clashes that gripped several parts of the city, wounding 113 people, had ebbed. But as the demonstrators tried to make their way back to their base, deadly fighting erupted between them and residents.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva praised the efforts of security forces, saying they used "soft means" and "prevented as much damage as possible," though ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra-the man most protesters consider their leader-accused the military of covering up the number of people killed in the day's battles.Abhisit said the news that two people had been killed and 12 wounded in a gunbattle between protesters and residents at Nang Lerng market was "a regrettable incident." But he said that "with the cooperation of the public, I believe success (in restoring peace) is near."Political tensions have simmered since 2006 when Thaksin was ousted by a military coup amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power. He remains popular in the impoverished countryside for his populist policies.Since then, political tensions have run high between his supporters, known as "red shirts," and the so-called "yellow shirts," a mix of royalists, academics, professionals and retired military who oppose the former prime minister.Last year, the yellow shirts shut down Bangkok's two main airports, ending their demonstrations when a court disqualified the pro-Thaksin prime minister for electoral fraud and Abhisit was appointed prime minister.The red shirts took to the streets last month, using tactics similar to those of their rivals last year. They accuse the country's elite-the military, judiciary and other unelected officials-of interfering in politics,and are seeking Thaksin's rehabilitation. Their numbers grew to 100,000 in Bangkok last week....
