Richard Lloyd Parry, Bangkok & ,}
Buildings were blazing opposite Bangkok last night as anti-government Red Shirt demonstrators rioted after the fall of their criticism debate and the surrender of their leaders.
The city was underneath curfew until 6am currently after the detain of comparison Red Shirts annoyed ire between followers. As the object set last night twenty buildings, together with banks, the batch sell and a selling centre, were on glow and Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, voiced that suspected looters and arsonists would be shot on sight.
At slightest 6 people were killed and 60 were harmed as soldiers and armoured personnel carriers pennyless by barricades and dismissed down a travel assigned by protesters. One of the passed was Fabio Polenghi, 48, an Italian photojournalist shot in the abdomen. Early this sunrise it was reported that a serve 9 people had been killed in clashes at a temple.
The Government, that shut off radio images of the days events, lengthened a state of puncture to dual some-more provinces as anti-government demonstrators in alternative cities burnt and vandalised open buildings. Twenty-four provinces, roughly a third of the country, are right away underneath puncture administration after rioting in Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and the northern city of Chiang Mai.
Red Shirts retreated as soldiers, who had collected prior to dawn, dismissed rifles and jolt grenades from Lumphini Park. Members of the Black Shirts anti-government militia, armed with pistols and involuntary rifles, mounted a hopeless counterclaim of the barricades, where at slightest dual were shot dead. Most of the protesters were armed with zero some-more manly than slings, motor fuel bombs and catapults that had no possibility of reaching their adversaries.
Before the armed forces had modernized median to the protesters rallying point at Ratchaprasong, came a startling announcement: 7 of the comparison Red Shirt leaders had concluded to surrender. Nuttawut Saikua, the majority charismatic, said: I know this is unsuitable to a little of you and a little of you do not want to listen to this, but we cannot mount this cruelty. We will sell the freedom with your safety. We have attempted the best. Brothers and sisters, Im sorry I cannot see you off the approach I welcomed you all when you arrived here.
After on foot the 300 metres to the nearest troops station, he done a last farewell as he was handcuffed. Please be positive that the hearts will always be with you. Please lapse home.
The announcement, by leaders who usually hours prior to had been vowing to quarrel to the death, caused shock, tears and annoy from most supporters, who had outlayed weeks vital on the streets to press their direct that Mr Abhisit, whose party has never been inaugurated at the list box, call new elections.
Within minutes, the Ratchaprasong intersection, that at the rise of the demonstrations was home to tens of thousands of protesters, was all but deserted.
Tonight will be an additional night of suffering, Panitan Wattanayagorn, the government spokesman, pronounced as the curfew was announced. Although the Red Shirts have deserted their encampments at Ratchaprasong and Lumphini Park, burning and removed looting was going on in alternative areas.
In an talk with the Reuters headlines group Thaksin Shinawatra, the banished former budding apportion who is an impulse to most of the Red Shirts, pronounced that the insurgency to the Government would not end. There is a speculation saying a troops crackdown can widespread rancour and these distressing people will turn guerrillas, he said.
Michel Maas, a Dutch publisher who has contributed to The Times, and Andrew Buncombe, a British match of The Independent, additionally suffered strength wounds from bullets or grenades.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office suggested British adults opposite any travel to Bangkok.
