Thai Protesters Open Fire on Opponents

Protesters in Thailand seeking to bring down the government opened fire on a group of political opponents along a blockaded highway today, Reuters reports. Television footage showed at least two guards from the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy firing 6 rounds at government supporters. The incident took place along a blockaded highway to a Bangkok airport, where ministers have had their offices since the PAD invaded government offices in August.

The attack is the latest and most violent twist in a 6-month effort by the PAD—a broad coalition of royalist businessmen, academics, and political activists—to bring down the popularly elected government. They say the current prime minister is a puppet of Thaksin Shinawatra, the PM's brother-in-law who remains in exile after a 2006 coup. Today the head of Thailand's army insisted once again that there would be no putsch this time.