Fighting spreads in Thai capital, 17 dead

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

Reuters) - Thai troops fired at protesters on Saturday in a third day of fighting on Bangkok's streets that has killed 17 people as soldiers struggle to isolate a sprawling encampment of demonstrators seeking to topple the government.

Soldiers crouched behind sandbags or atop buildings fired live rounds at protesters armed with petrol bombs, guns and homemade rockets in clashes around the business district. One was shot in the chest while trying to ignite a tire.

At Din Daeng intersection, north of the protest site, three bodies were evacuated on stretchers, a Reuters witness said. Two suffered head wounds. Troops also swarmed into a parking lot at the popular Dusit Thani hotel outside the protest site.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64C0L620100515

[HEyHEY]

1. "Clear the square"

While it's easy to compare this to Tiananmen, I still find it hard to draw direct lines. The world's a messed up, confusing place.

[maddezmom]

2. Thai army says calling in reinforcements in Bangkok

BANGKOK, May 15 (Reuters) - Thailand's military will send in reinforcements to assist troops struggling to seal an off an encampment occupied occupied by thousands of anti-government protesters, an army spokesman said on Saturday.

"I cannot say how many troops are deployed because of security concerns, but there will be reinforcements to help troops seal the area and step up pressure on protesters," Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SGE64E02H.htm

the situation is very fluid according to CCNI and BBC....