Gunfight Causes First Deaths in Thai Riots

(NEWSER) - Anti-government protesters ignored Thailand’s state of emergency by the thousands today while former PM Thaksin Shinawatra called on them “to come out in revolution,” the New York Times reports. In defiance of a ban on gatherings of more than five people in Bangkok, demonstrators rallied outside the current prime minister’s home, attacked his car, and erected barricades in case of military intervention. More»

Gov't bans gatherings of more than 5 in capital

(AP) - Thailand's embattled government, humiliated by demonstrators who shut down a 16-nation Asian summit, declared a state of emergency in the capital today and ordered armored vehicles into the streets to stem a tide of protest across the country. Bands of anti-government protesters roamed Bangkok as the decree was announced. They smashed a car, commandeered public buses, and beat up motorists who hurled insults at them. More»

State's claim of 13 dead, 4 wounded at odds with exiles' estimate of 99 killed

(NEWSER) - China admitted today its police opened fire on Tibetan protesters, wounding four in “self-defense,” the BBC reports. The statement from state-run Xinhua news agency is China’s first admission to hurting anyone since protests began last week. Chinese officials say rioters have killed 13; Tibetan activists reported security forces firing on crowds, and say at least 99 have been killed. More»

Supporters say attack that wounded 'yellow shirt' leaders was politically motivated

(AP) - The founder of Thailand's "yellow shirt" protest movement that shut down Bangkok airports last year was shot and wounded today in an attack that his supporters called politically motivated. Police say at least two men in a pickup truck ambushed Sondhi Limthongkul's car as he was being driven to work, first aiming to shoot out the tires and then spraying the vehicle with bullets. More»

Ex-officer surrendered on suspicion of murder

(NEWSER) - The transit officer who fatally shot an unarmed man on New Year's Day, sparking San Francisco-area riots, was arrested last night in Nevada on suspicion of murder, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Sources say Johannes Mehserle, 27, had fled California after receiving death threats in the wake of Oscar Grant's death. Mehserle resigned last week rather than answer investigators’ questions. More»