Sun, 12 Apr 2009
BANGKOK, April 12 (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva managed to escape from the Interior Ministry in Bangkok by car on Sunday after scores of anti-government protesters broke into the grounds, Thai television stations reported.
A Reuters reporter said soldiers had made no attempt at first to stop the protesters, supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a coup in 2006, but later troops fired warning shots into the air.
Shortly before, the government had announced a state of emergency in Bangkok.
About 50 protesters broke through security at the interior ministry in Bangkok while Abhisit was in the building, but the prime minister escaped by car, a TV channel said.
Reuters journalists at the scene said soldiers initially made no effort to stop the protesters from entering the building but later fired into the air to prevent more from joining them.
Red-shirted protesters were also gathering at the capital's police headquarters while a crowd at Government House had grown to over 4,000.
The latest unrest comes a day after protesters stormed the venue of a summit of Asian leaders, forcing the event to be cancelled and seriously undermining confidence in the government.
In a weekly address to the nation, Abhisit said arrest warrants were being drawn up for those responsible for the unrest.
Police said they had already arrested Arismun Pongreungrong, a popular singer prominent in the summit assault, and were holding him at a police station north of Bangkok.
"In the current situation, what I have to do is to bring peace to the country, bring back governance and have a process of political reform," Abhisit said.
Abhisit appeared on television to warn the Thaksin supporters to stop or face tough measures allowed under the emergency.
"We want to ask you to stop such action. It is necessary for the government to adopt the measures allowed in the emergency decree, in order to get the nation back to peace," he said in a televised statement, hours after his car was attacked.
Some armoured vehicles have appeared on the streets but no action has been reported by security officers.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees security matters, implored the security forces to do their job.
"Police and military officers must fully and forcefully carry out their jobs lest more damage is done. Actions must be taken promptly and order be restored as soon as possible. Your superiors and I will take responsibility for all your actions," he said in a statement on television.
"NOT A COUP"
A Reuters journalist at the Interior Ministry said soldiers initially made no effort to stop the protesters from entering the premises but later fired into the air to stop others getting in.
Some protesters had disabled the tracks of two armoured cars near police headquarters. Others danced on top of the vehicles. Witnesses also saw armoured vehicles at the foreign ministry.
An army spokesman said on television the public should not be alarmed at the movement of such vehicles. This was not a coup, but part of the security measures Abhisit has ordered, he said.
A demonstration at Abhisit's office, Government House -- the focus of the protests since late March -- had earlier appeared to be winding down as people left the capital ahead of the three-day Thai New Year holiday from Monday.
Up to 300 police with riot shields were about 200 metres (yards) from the site.
Leaders of the red-shirted, pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) said they had "arrested" one of the prime minister's security guards, claiming he had shot dead a protester at the ministry.
Independent witnesses saw no one shot and Abhisit's spokesman, Thepthai Senpong, dismissed it as "propaganda".
A Reuters reporter saw the man's badge, confirming he was part of Abhisit's detail. He said the guard was badly beaten up when he was brought to the Government House site where demonstrators later treated his wounds.
Speaking from a makeshift stage, UDD leader Jakrapob Penkair said the Thaksin supporters were ready to defend themselves.
"They are trying to force us into a people's war. We will bring more people to Government House because the best way to defend ourselves is with numbers," he said.
