 (photo: AP / Vincent Yu) |
Bands of red-shirted anti-government protesters roamed areas of Bangkok, with some furiously smashing cars carrying Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his aides and others beating up motorists who hurled insults at them.
At least 10 intersections were occupied by the protesters, who used buses to barricade several major roads, spawning massive traffic jams.
Police General Vichai Sangparpai said up to 30 000 demonstrators were scattered around the city.
Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, regarded by most of the protesters as their leader, called for a revolution and said he might return from overseas exile to lead it.
Return to country
"Now that they have tanks on the streets, it is time for the people to come out in revolution.
"And when it is necessary, I will come back to the country," he said in a telephoned message to followers who surrounded the Prime Minister's office.
Political tensions have simmered since Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 for alleged corruption and abuse of power.
He remains popular for his populist policies in the impoverished countryside, while his opponents - many in urban areas - took to the streets to help bring down two pro-Thaksin governments, seizing Bangkok's two airports in November for about a week.
The emergency decree bans gatherings of more than five people, forbids news reports considered threatening to public order and allows the government to call up military troops to quell unrest.
Abhisit's government suffered a major humiliation on Saturday when it failed to stop hundreds of demonstrators from storming the venue of a 16-nation Asian summit, forcing its cancellation and the evacuation of the leaders by helicopter.
Editorials in Bangkok newspapers on Sunday lashed out at both the protesters for destroying Thailand's international reputation and the government for a massive security breakdown.
- AP
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