ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by BangkokPost | "For the safety for passengers, we have to stop flights out of the airport temporarily until the situation returns to normal."

Suvarnabhumi airport manager Serirat Prasutanon at 9pm Tuesday evening. CRISIS ROUNDUP

Protesters rushed into Suvarnabhumi airport and forced a halt to all flights on Tuesday, as rival forces clashed at outside, as well as on the road from Don Mueang airport where two people were wounded in the first exchange of gunfire between the PAD and UDD.

"I can confirm that there were gunshots," a police colonel on the scene said.

"There was a slight clash and two people were wounded."

In the eastern suburbs, protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy - some masked, some armed with metal rods - rushed into the main terminal, startling thousands of passengers and staff. They forced airport officials to shut down operations and cancel all outbound flights indefinitely. Planes on their way to Suvaranabhumi were still landing late on Tuesday.

The violence in the northern part of the capital, meanwhile, began on the main Vibhavadee Rangsit Road, when supporters of the pro-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) threw stones at a truck carrying PAD members.

The anti-government PAD members were returning from Don Mueang, where they have attempted to blockade the temporary seat of government.

From their truck, the PAD members fired slingshots and then at least two pistols at the UDD members.

The fight escalated, as the PAD truck turned to pursue the several dozen UDD supporters, firing at them.

Two of the fleeing UDD members were shot in the incident.

The PAD truck was apparently on the way to join about 1,000 PAD protesters who gathered in front of the armed forces headquarters on Chaeng Wattana Road on Tuesday, with more on the way. They aim to prevent a cabinet meeting rumoured to be scheduled for the building on Wednesday.

The entrance and exit gates of the command headquarters were closed. Military guards, with two fire engines, have been deployed for security inside the compound.

Meanwhile, the government remained in place and the army vowed there would be no coup.

The PAD planned to submit a letter to Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jaggabatara, asking the military to take sides in the conflict.

But they looked to be disappointed again.

"The armed forces have agreed that a coup cannot solve our country's problems and we will try to weather the current situation and pass this critical time," army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda said.

"The military will use all of its resources to prevent a clash," he said, but added that he was confident there would be no bloodshed.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was on his way back from the Apec summit in Peru. He will have to find new office space again; the PAD have seized his offices in Government House and at Don Mueang.

In Lima, Mr Somchai told reporters that he will call a meeting of all relevant agencies as soon as he returns on Wednesday.

He criticised the PAD's plan to gather at Suvarnabhumi airport when he arrives. The prime minister said this could cause considerable damage to the country and the PAD should think of the majority.

But there is no sign that the government will resign. It has effectively gone into hiding, and appears non-functional but there is no sign that the protests will force it to step down as the PAD indicated it would.

The PAD also stiffened its position again. Coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said there will be no negotiations with the government under any circumstances, because talks would be futile.

He said the PAD’s plan is to stop the government from exercising its power by all means, including by besieging the alternative government headquarters at Don Mueang airport.

He was reacting to a government offer to talk from acting prime minister Chavarat Charnveerakul, who proposed that Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva act as mediator at a neutral ground, the defence ministry.

Democrat party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said in this situation the government should either resign or dissolve the House of Representatives. (with news agency reports)