Sunday, April 12, 2009

PROTESTERS RIOT INSIDE INTERIOR MINISTRY


By The Nation

Several police and protesters were injured during a riot inside the Interior Ministry Sunday afternoon when red-shirted protesters tried to attack a motorcade leaving the compound on suspicion that the prime minister was inside one of the cars, Thai PBS reported.

The red-shirted protesters blocked and raided the ministry's compound once after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva finished announcing the state of emergency on TV at 2;30 pm.

Thai PBS confirmed that both Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban were not in any car of the motorcade.

The station said Abhisit and Suthep left the Interior Ministry before the red-shirted protesters managed to block the entrance of the compound and ran inside and rioted.

A series of gunfire was herd when protesters attacked the motorcade.

Reporters of Thai PBS said a security officer fired warning shots in the sky to warn protesters to stop hitting the car with flower pots and metal barricades, prompting the protesters to become more furious and ran after him. Soldiers had to come out to rescue the official from being lynched by the protesters.

But the soldiers simply pushed away the angry protesters without using shields or batons to attack them.

Some protesters were injured when hit by the car when they ran after the car.

Source: The Nation
Photo: Bangkok Post

No comments: