Bangkok airport closed as protests turn violent

In a recent tug of war over power pro and anti-government groups clashed in the Thai capital, as anti-government supporters seized Bangkok's main International airport lateTuesday, forcing officials to cancel all flights for the day.

Prior to the airport seizure, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protestors exchanged fire with pro-government supporters on a road leading to the old airport of Bangkok. At least 11 people were seriously injured according to the emergency officials in the city.

Thai protesters surrounded the government's temporary office on Tuesday in a renewed attempt to unseat the elected administration after a nationwide strike fell flat.

Attacks from PAD supporters were caught on Television footage, according to Reuters. However the PAD were quoted as saying they fired in self-defense.

Thousands of PAD members holding "sticks and baseball bats" surrounded the terminals, a Belgian tourist by the name of Ben Creemers told Reuters.

Political unrest threatens economy

Bent on overthrowing Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's administration, accused of being a puppet government, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters plan to hold their ground until the Prime Minister returns on Wednesday from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru.

"Our goal is to shut down Suvarnabhumi airport until Somchai quits," PAD spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan said of the protest.

The airport is said to be the 18th largest in terms of traffic volume and is considered to be the main transit gateway for travelers seeking Thailand and Southeast Asians.

Ongoing internal political unrest is shaking the country's economy especially during the financial crisis facing the world today, dealers said.

Thailand's benchmark stock index SETI lost some of its earlier 2.8 percent gain. Last week the Thai Market finished on a low mark in three consecutive sessions, giving up more than 13 percent of its shares, according to Stock Exchange of Thailand report.

Ousting the government

The last six months witnessed a series of tit for tat strikes between the two forces, causing civil tension in the capital to rise.

Earlier this week leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Sondhi Limthongkul called for a protest to unseat what he called "murderous Government," of Thailand, Reuters sources said.

This came in response to a grenade fired last Thursday into Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's Parliament where PAD protestors camped. The overnight attack injured ten people as they slept.

The attacks are believed to be perpetrated by Wongsawati's Government in response to the PAD's occupation of his premises.

In October a PAD attempt to cancel Somchai planned speech to parliament left hundreds of citizens and police wounded.

In a statement to Reuters, Army chief Anupong Paochinda, who has more than 3,000 anti-riot soldiers on standby, said that a coup would do nothing to resolve the fundamental political rifts.