Five dead in Thailand protests

Bangkok, Dec 2 (IANS/EFE) At least five people died in clashes between Thai government supporters and opponents near a Bangkok university amid a resurgence of anti-government protests, police said.

The incidents, during which gunfire erupted, occurred Saturday night and early Sunday in the vicinity of Rahjamhaeng University and the Fajamangala stadium, the assistant police commissioner, Veerapong Chiewpreecha, told state-run television Sunday.

The Red Shirts, who support the government, said that four of their people died in the clashes and, as a result, they suspended their demonstrations scheduled for Sunday in the Rajamangala stadium.

So far, the authorities have only confirmed the deaths at the university.

Police took hours to restore order in the vicinity of the university and the stadium, where anti-government university students Saturday attacked a taxi and a bus carrying Red Shirts members.

The anti-government demonstrators occupied a police club where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra happened to be at the time, forcing her to be evacuated to a secret location.

--(IANS/EFE)

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