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Thai Army Battles Protesters

Dozens injured as troops move to quell Bangkok protests

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 13, 2009 6:16 AM CDT

(Newser) – Dozens of people were injured today as the Thai military moved to crush protests causing chaos in Bangkok. Soldiers opened fire at demonstrators who had taken control of a major junction and set fire to a bus they had commandeered. Most aimed over the protesters' heads but some fired live rounds directly into the crowd, a BBC correspondent at the scene reports.

The chief of the armed forces vowed to restore order "by all possible means," although he promised troops would only use their weapons in self-defense. Thousands of the red-shirted protesters, supporters of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, remain camped around Bangkok's Government House and more shots have been fired as troops move into the area, Reuters reports.

Thai soldiers take position as they face with smokes set by protesters after they clear an intersection in downtown Bangkok Thailand Monday, April 13, 2009.
Thai soldiers take position as they face with smokes set by protesters after they clear an intersection in downtown Bangkok Thailand Monday, April 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
An anti-government demonstrator and supporter of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves a flag during a protest Monday, April 13, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai soldiers sprayed automatic weapons fire into the air and threw tear gas to clear demonstrators blocking roads across the capital Monday in a major escalation...
An anti-government demonstrator and supporter of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves a flag during a protest Monday, April 13, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai soldiers sprayed automatic weapons...   (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Anti-government protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra set up the roadblock and burn a bus during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, April 13, 2009.
Anti-government protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra set up the roadblock and burn a bus during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, April 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Thai anti-government protestors shout at Thai soldiers near downtown Monday, April 13, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai anti-government protestors shout at Thai soldiers near downtown Monday, April 13, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand.   (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
A Thai soldier fires a shot into the air as troops clear anti-government protestors from the streets near downtown Monday, April 13, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand.
A Thai soldier fires a shot into the air as troops clear anti-government protestors from the streets near downtown Monday, April 13, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand.   (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
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