Thai govt, Army say they tried negotiation before shooting into air

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-13 10:20

BANGKOK -- The acting government spokesman and Army spokesman insisted in a press conference Monday morning that soldiers tried to talk protesters out of stopping road-blockade at the Din Daeng Intersection before dispersing them by force, Thai media reported.

Acting Government Spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn and Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said soldiers had to fire teargas and shot into the air after protesters threw bombs and teargas at the troops and drove some vehicles rushing towards them, The Nation said on its website.

Sansern insisted troops fired shots into the air just for terrifying the protesters.

At least 68 wounded when hundreds of army soldiers and anti-government protesters clashed in Bangkok early Monday morning, 14 hours after Thai PM declared a state of emergency in the capital city, Bangkok health department said.

The clash occurred around 04:30 a.m. Monday (2100 GMT Sunday) when some 300 so-called red-shirted protesters used a seized bus to crash soldiers stationed at Din Daeng District in north Bangkok, Sansern told TV PBS.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared on Sunday afternoon a state of emergency in Bangkok and some districts of five provinces nearby, citing the escalating violence of red- shirted protesters.

The latest round of the anti-government protests led by UDD, has entered its 19th day. Red-shirted protesters on Saturday stormed the venue of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit and related summits in Pattaya, and forced the summits canceled.