Anti-government demonstrators construct makeshift barricades Wednesday, April 21, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand, protesting about the government. According to his official spokesman, Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is ready to negotiate with protesters who are seeking a change of government, but only when the demonstrators who have illegally occupied city streets agree to abide by the country's law.
Anti-government protesters and supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, look out from their makeshift barricades Wednesday, April 21, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand, protesting about the government. According to his official spokesman, Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is ready to negotiate with protesters who are seeking a change of government, but only when the demonstrators who have illegally occupied city streets agree to abide by the country's law.
Thailand's tense political crisis spread from Bangkok to the northeast, as anti-government demonstrators blocked a train carrying military vehicles that they claimed would be used to suppress fellow protesters in the capital.
The confrontation Wednesday came as the "Red Shirt" protesters and security forces remained locked in a potentially explosive standoff in downtown Bangkok. The determined demonstrators are demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve Parliament and call new elections immediately.
A failed April 10 attempt by security forces to flush protesters from their first encampment in the capital erupted into the worst political violence Thailand has seen in 18 years, with 25 people dead and more than 800 wounded.
'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters block a military train during a protest at a train station near Khon Kaen
A pro-government supporter takes cover behind a police truck on Wednesday April 21, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Several hundred pro-government protesters have gathered across from the Red Shirts; shouting and jeering and occasionally attacking people they think may be sympathetic to the anti-government groups. Police are stationed loosely between the two sides; neither of which seem inclined to have a direct full-on fight; though late Wednesday night the government supporters started throwing rocks and bottles.
Pro-government supporters shout at anti-government protesters shout at anti-government protesters Wednesday April 21, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Several hundred pro-government protesters have gathered across from the Red Shirts; shouting and jeering and occasionally attacking people they think may be sympathetic to the anti-government groups. Police are stationed loosely between the two sides; neither of which seem inclined to have a direct full-on fight; though late Wednesday night the government supporters started throwing rocks and bottles
An pro-government protester throws stone to the anti-government protesters encampment late Wednesday, April 21, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Several hundred pro-government protesters have gathered across from the Red Shirts; shouting and jeering and occasionally attacking people they think may be sympathetic to the anti-government groups. Police are stationed loosely between the two sides; neither of which seem inclined to have a direct full-on fight; though late Wednesday night the government supporters started throwing rocks and bottles.
Pro-government supporters shout at anti-government protesters and hold up a sign which says " Be United and Fight Against The Red Shirts", Wednesday April 21, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Several hundred pro-government protesters gathered shouting and jeering and occasionally attacking people they thought may be sympathetic to the anti-government groups. Police were stationed loosely between the two sides, neither of which seem inclined to have a direct full-on fight.
A pro-government protester fires a slingshot towards anti-government protesters on Wednesday April 21, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Several hundred pro-government protesters have gathered across from the Red Shirts; shouting and jeering and occasionally attacking people they think may be sympathetic to the anti-government groups. Police are stationed loosely between the two sides; neither of which seem inclined to have a direct full-on fight; though late Wednesday night the government supporters started throwing rocks and bottles.
The protesters consist mainly of poor rural supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and pro-democracy activists who opposed the military coup that ousted him in 2006.
The Red Shirts believe Abhisit's government is illegitimate because it came to power under military pressure through a parliamentary vote after disputed court rulings ousted two elected pro-Thaksin governments.
Speculation is rife the government is set to forcibly remove the Red Shirts from the blocks of central Bangkok they've occupied for weeks. Soldiers in full combat gear have been stationed in the business district's main street to block the protesters from entering it.
Early Thursday, helicopters were seen flying high above the protest site, but their purpose was not clear. Protesters shot fireworks at them.
Adding to the tension, several hundred pro-government protesters gathered late Wednesday across from the Red Shirts, shouting, jeering and throwing rocks and bottles at them, AP Television footage showed.
Anti-Red Shirt demonstrators with flags and placards reading, "Give back our city," and "Yes to democracy! No to red terror," squared off just yards (meters) apart from their rivals as security forces watched. Several people suffered minor injuries and at least one was detained by police.
The Red Shirts fortified their encampment Wednesday with tire barricades and homemade weapons including bamboo spears and wooden shields, while soldiers and riot police stood warily nearby.
In the province of Khon Kaen, 241 miles (388 kilometers) northeast of Bangkok, some 400 to 500 Red Shirts blocked a train carrying military vehicles, said police Lt. Col. Thanarat Meethonglang.
No violence was reported. Provincial officials were negotiating with the protesters to allow the train to pass.
The Thai Rath newspaper website cited a protest leader saying the Red Shirts intercepted the train after learning its cargo would be used to suppress the demonstrations in Bangkok — an assertion denied by authorities.
Prospects for a peaceful solution to the political crisis appear slim. Negotiations were apparently taking place, however.
"The attempt to negotiate has been ongoing, but the official talks can't proceed as long as the demonstration remains unlawful," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanyagorn.
"The situation has changed now that violence has occurred and terrorism has been involved," he said, referring to the April 10 clash, in which masked gunmen returned soldiers' fire with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades.
Key protest leader Nattawut Saikua earlier indicated the demonstrators were open to negotiations to end the confrontations and chaos in the city, which is damaging the economy, as well as trying residents' patience.
"Our group is always open to outside suggestions. Whatever group wants to propose a solution to the crisis, we're happy to hear these solutions," Nattawut said. But the protest leaders have sent mixed signals, with some saying talks are not wanted.
Hotels and retailers in the protest zone, which spans about 1.8 square miles (3 square kilometers) say the rallies have cost tens of millions of dollars in losses. Several five-star hotels closed for the week and relocated guests to safer hotels.
Upscale shopping malls in the middle of the protest have been shut for weeks.
Thailand's political crisis has spread to the rural northeast, where protesters have blockaded a military train and forced busloads of troops to return to their bases, officials said Thursday.
Hundreds of anti-government campaigners are locked in a standoff with the military after Tuesday halting a train carrying armed soldiers and heavy equipment in the northern capital of Khon Kaen.
Also in Khon Kaen overnight, hundreds of red-shirted protesters stopped three military buses with troops aboard and forced them to return to their base.
"The incident ended (after) 150 of the troops aboard three held-up buses agreed to return to their base in Udon Thani," said Khon Kaen provincial police commander Major General Pattanee Siriwattanee.
"But at the train station I am attending a third round of talks today. It's rather difficult because Red Shirt leaders have to comply with orders from their leaders from Bangkok."
The red-shirted protesters, part of a movement which has staged rolling demonstrations in the capital since mid-March, said they feared the troops and equipment were part of a looming crackdown on their Bangkok rallying base.
Street clashes in Bangkok earlier this month left 25 people dead.
Authorities said the troops and the 18-carriage train, which has been separated from its engine, was actually destined for the Muslim-majority southern provinces where a separatist insurgency is raging.
On Thursday the train was patrolled by armed soldiers, as hundreds of Red Shirts milled around. Protest leaders in Bangkok urged other supporters in the area to reinforce them.
"At this moment there are 300 of them but the number can increase dramatically when they start to arrive later from nearby provinces," Pattanee said.
The Reds have rolled large concrete cylinders onto the track to stop it being moved, and said they will hold the train for five days until after the expected crackdown.
The protest movement, which draws much of their support from the rural poor, is largely loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and is living in exile to avoid a jail sentence for corruption.
The Reds say the current government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is undemocratic because it came to power in a parliamentary vote after a court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from office.
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