Asia-Pacific

Thai police pull back after confronting protesters

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-04-23 11:10
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Thai police pull back after confronting protesters
A Thai riot police officer clashes with a rival of the red shirts protestors, during a standoff near the business district in Bangkok, Thailand Friday, April 23, 2010. [Agencies] 

BANGKOK - Hundreds of Thai riot police confronted anti-government protesters at a barricade in Bangkok's business district on Friday, a day after grenade attacks in the area killed three people, but later pulled back without violence.

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In tense scenes, Thai television said police went right up to the barrier and demanded the "red shirts" dismantled it. They made no move to do so, and a Reuters photographer said protesters poured fuel on to the barricade, made up largely of tyres.

But the police later pulled back, and the protesters also retreated to the camp they have set up behind the barrier in the capital's Silom district, he said.

The government said the grenades late on Thursday, which also wounded 75 people, were fired from the red shirt protest area. Leaders of the red shirts, who have been demonstrating in Bangkok for six weeks seeking new elections, denied they were to blame.

The grenade blasts came 12 days after clashes between troops and protesters killed 25 people and wounded more than 800 in the country's worst street violence in 18 years.

The central bank said on Wednesday that the political crisis was affecting confidence, tourism, private consumption and investment, although exports, which are crucial to economic growth, have been little affected by the unrest.

Thailand's currency, the baht, fell about 0.5 percent in early trade to 32.31 per dollar at 0159 GMT against 32.20 late on Thursday.

"It is clearly a reaction to the blasts last night. The baht is hit by this abnormal situation despite its earlier resilience. If the violence drags on and subject to the degree of chaos, it could slide further to 32.40-50," a Bangkok-based dealer said.

The stock market, which has swung widely in recent sessions in reaction to protest developments, opens at 0300 GMT.

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