Clashes have broken out in the Thai capital Bangkok
involving pro- and anti-government protesters.
People heading to a pro-government rally were attacked by
students, and later shots were fired, injuring at least three of the students.
Yesterday is the seventh day of protests aiming to unseat
the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Protesters claim her government is controlled by her
brother, exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
He was ousted in a coup following protests in 2006 and now
lives in self-imposed exile overseas.
He is one of the most polarising figures in Thai politics -
he remains popular with many rural voters, while his opponents tend to be urban
and middle class voters.
What had been largely peaceful demonstrations turned violent
outside a stadium where a pro-government rally has been confined during this
week to avoid clashes with the anti-government protests moving around the city,
says the BBC reports from Bangkok.
A group of students attacked vehicles bringing government
supporters to the stadium - windows were smashed, and some minor injuries
reported before police reinforcements were sent to the area and roads blocked,
our correspondent reports.
Later shots were fired, and three students were taken to
hospital with gunshot injuries.
Tension is now rising in Bangkok as the anti-government
movement prepares for what it calls a “people’s revolt” - a mass occupation of
government buildings all over Bangkok.
There is a high risk of greater violence if more supporters
of Ms Shinawatra - whose party enjoys string backing outside Bangkok - try to
come to the capital
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