Devastation: Protesters carry a wounded comrade as Red Shirt supporters clash with government troops. The usually upscale area of Bangkok is now littered with bodies, burning tyres and debrisThai anti-government protesters claimed that army snipers were operating a 'shoot to kill' policy as violent clashes spilled over into a third day on the streets of Bangkok today.
Explosions and street fighting have killed 17 people and wounded nearly 160 since the government attempted on Thursday to seal off a one-square-mile zone in the capital occupied by the Red Shirt protesters - who are demanding the resignation of prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The army insisted it was was not shooting to kill, but protesters during a lull in clashes today crawled along sidewalks to slowly drag away corpses of three people near the city's Victory Monument traffic circle. They told photographers that army snipers had shot all three in the head.
Today a medical rescue worker became the latest in the rising toll of dead and injured - shot while trying to reach a wounded protester.
The volunteer worker was feared dead today after a witness, another medical volunteer, saw his colleague cut down by gunfire as fighting between protesters and troops spirals out of control.
It was unclear who shot the worker, but troops have used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds on demonstrators, and the protesters in turn have set fire to tires and a police bus.
Troops have also declared the protesters' barricaded area as a 'live firing zone', warning of increased use of live ammunition.
Today a medical rescue worker became the latest in the rising toll of dead and injured - shot while trying to reach a wounded protester.
The volunteer worker was feared dead today after a witness, another medical volunteer, saw his colleague cut down by gunfire as fighting between protesters and troops spirals out of control.
It was unclear who shot the worker, but troops have used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds on demonstrators, and the protesters in turn have set fire to tires and a police bus.
Troops have also declared the protesters' barricaded area as a 'live firing zone', warning of increased use of live ammunition.
'Shoot to kill': While the army is denying purposefully aiming to kill protesters, at least three Red Shirts were shot in the head during clashes todayClashes resumed in several parts of the city today, and explosions once again echoed through streets emptied of shoppers and tourists, as plumes of black smoke rose amid skyscrapers and hotels.
In a message from New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to both sides to 'do all within their power to avoid further violence and loss of life'.
But, with negotiations terminated, the situation appeared headed toward a final showdown on the streets.
Jatuporn Prompan, a protest leader, said today: 'The situation right now is getting closer to civil war every minute. We have to fight on. The leaders shouldn't even think about retreat when our brothers are ready to fight on.'
David and Goliath struggle: As troops fire tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition at the surrounded protesters, Red Shirt supporters 'return fire' with rocks, slingshots and fireworks
Barricaded: Protesters behind their makeshift fortress in Bangkok. Red Shirt leaders are vowing to fight on and say the clashes are moving the country closer to civil warThe Red Shirt protesters began their latest campaign to oust the government in March, saying it came to power illegitimately and is indifferent to the poor. In several rounds of violence since then, a total 43 people have been killed and at least 1,620 wounded, according to a government toll that includes the most recent clashes.
Protesters have urged 82-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej to end his long silence and intervene, but there was no word from the widely revered ailing monarch.
Tyrell Haberkorn, a political scientist with The Australian National University, said: 'I am gravely concerned that a bloody suppression will only further entrench the culture of violence in Thailand.'
She said the protests stemmed from the outrage that the marginalized majority felt at the lack of say they had in governance, which was largely in the hands of the elites.
She added:'If one listens to the protesters... people are willing to risk their lives because they believe that they are making a more just Thai society for themselves, their children and their grandchildren.'
The latest violence erupted after the Red Shirts' military strategist - a former Thai general - was shot and seriously injured, apparently by a sharpshooter, as he spoke to foreign journalists on Thursday.
Witnesses saw several groups of a dozen or more people detained at the scene of several clashes.
No figures were released on how many were detained.
As night fell yesterday, defiant Red Shirt leaders led followers in Buddhist prayers and called on volunteers to bring more tires for their barricades
Taunting the troops: Despite the rising death toll, protesters pull their trousers down to show their defiance Another protest leader, Weng Tojirakarn, demanded today that the government declare a cease-fire and pull back its troops because 'we don't want to see a civil war. If it does happen, I don't know how many years it will take to end'.
The Red Shirts, mostly rural poor, began camping in the capital March 12 to try to force out the prime minister.They claim his coalition government came to power through manipulation of the courts and the backing of the powerful military.
The military had forced Thaksin Shinawatra, the populist premier favored by the Red Shirts, from office in a 2006 coup. Two subsequent pro-Thaksin governments were disbanded by court rulings before Mr Abhisit became prime minister.
About 10,000 Red Shirts have barricaded themselves in a protest zone in Rajprasong, Bangkok's premier shopping and diplomatic enclave. They have set up a perimeter of tires and bamboo stakes, refusing to leave until Mr Abhisit dissolves parliament and calls new elections.
The occupation has forced luxury hotels and high-end shops to close for weeks. Major roads around the protest site were blocked to traffic today, and the city's subway and elevated train shut down. The embassies of the United States, Britain and other countries were also closed.
The political uncertainty has spooked foreign investors and damaged the vital tourism industry, which accounts for six per cent of the economy.
The crisis had appeared to be reaching a resolution last week when Mr Abhisit offered to hold elections in November, a year early. But the hopes were dashed after Red Shirt leaders made more demands.
source :dailymail