Thai Protests: Two killed, 45 wounded in Thai political violence

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Two people have been killed and 45 wounded during political violence in the Thai capital, emergency services said Sunday, as the opposition vowed a final push to overthrow the government.

"The confirmed toll is now two dead and 45 injured," an official at the city's Erawan emergency centre told AFP.

The circumstances were unclear but the violence broke out after a confrontation late Saturday between opposition protesters and government supporters staging their own rally at a Bangkok stadium in support of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thai pro-government leaders end rally after violence

Leaders of the pro-government 'Red Shirts' on Sunday ordered tens of thousands of their supporters to end a mass rally in Bangkok after violence left at least one person dead and dozens more wounded.

"In order to avoid further complicating the situation for the government, we have decided to let people return home," Thida Thavornseth told protesters gathered in a Bangkok stadium.

One person was shot dead and at least 35 wounded late Saturday as anti-government demonstrators clashed with Red Shirts in the area around the stadium, according to emergency services.

Tensions in the Thai capital remained high on Sunday after reports of fresh violence near the stadium and threats by opposition demonstrators to try to enter key government buildings, including the headquarters of embattled Thai premier Yingluck Shinawatra.

On Saturday, police said protesters hurled bottles at officers near the stadium in the Ramkhamhaeng district, where more than 70,000 Red Shirts were gathered. Gunshots were later fired near the stadium, claiming the first life in the recent protests, according to police, although the circumstances of the fatality were unclear.

The opposition demonstrators, who want to replace Prime Minister Yingluck's government with an unelected "people's council", have mounted the kingdom's biggest street rallies since political violence in Bangkok three years ago left dozens dead in a military crackdown.

The protests were triggered by an amnesty bill, since abandoned by the ruling party, that opponents feared would have allowed the return of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother, whose overthrow by royalist generals in 2006 unleashed years of political turmoil.

One person shot dead in Thai political protests - police

A Thai man was shot dead and three others were injured as political protests in Bangkok turned violent Saturday, police said, after opposition protesters vowed a final push in their bid to topple the government.

"A 21-year-man was shot dead by two bullets to his left side," said Boonchuay Pochantong, an official at a police station near a Bangkok sports stadium where unrest broke out earlier.

He added that three more men were injured.

The circumstances were unclear but the shootings came after a mob of opposition protesters attacked government supporters travelling to a rally at the stadium in a show of support for embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Two people wounded by gunshots at Thai protests

Two people suffered gunshot wounds as violence broke out at anti-government protests in the Thai capital on Saturday, emergency officials said. Two people suffered gunshot wounds as violence broke out at anti-government protests in the Thai capital on Saturday, emergency officials said.

One student was shot in the thigh and another man was shot in the back, according to an official at the Panya General Hospital where they were taken for treatment. The circumstances were unclear but the shootings came after a mob of opposition protesters attacked government supporters travelling to a rally at a Bangkok sports stadium in a show of support for embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Also a senior police official said Saturday, that Thailand will deploy nearly 3,000 troops to reinforce security in Bangkok, with tensions rising as opposition protesters vow a final push in their bid to topple the government.

"From tonight there will be soldiers out to take care of security," national police spokesman Piya Utayo said in a televised address, adding that some 2,730 military personnel from the army, navy and airforce would take part.

The move comes after violence broke out at protests in the Thai capital, with two people suffering gunshot wounds, according to emergency officials.

Defiant demonstrators seeking to unseat the embattled administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have besieged major state buildings in Bangkok in the biggest street protests since mass rallies in 2010 left dozens dead in a military crackdown. The protesters - a mix of royalists, southerners and the urban middle class sometimes numbering in their tens of thousands - are united by their loathing of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's older brother.

One student was shot in the thigh and another man was shot in the back, according to an official at the Panya General Hospital where they were taken for treatment.

The circumstances were unclear but the shootings came after a mob of opposition protesters attacked government supporters travelling to a rival rally at a Bangkok sports stadium in a show of support for Yingluck.

Thai opposition protesters try to break into Government House - police

Hundreds of Thai opposition protesters tried Saturday to force their way over barriers protecting Government House, police said, in a dramatic escalation of their bid to topple premier Yingluck Shinawatra after vowing a final push in their demonstrations.

"About 2,000 protesters of students network were trying to pressure the police" said National Police spokesman Piya Utayo, as demonstrators piled sandbags near barriers protecting the key symbol of government power in an effort to get across.