A series of grenade blasts ripped through a pro-government rally in Bangkok Thursday, leaving three dead and 70 injured, including foreigners, in the latest bloodshed in the heart of the Thai capital.
The authorities said five grenades were fired from within the anti-government Red Shirt protesters' sprawling encampment, which has been fortified in recent days with sharpened bamboo stakes and piles of car tyres.
"Three people died and more than 70 were injured," said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, adding that an M79 grenade launcher was used in the attacks, which came as the supporters of embattled Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva faced off with the rival Reds.
"It was clear that it was shot from behind the King Rama VI Monument where the Red Shirts are rallying," he told reporters.
Australian injured
According to a Western diplomat who asked not to be named, one Japanese and one Australian were believed to be among the injured. The United Nations and the United States urged all sides to exercise restraint.
"We appeal to both the protesters and the Thai authorities to avoid further violence and loss of life and to work to resolve the situation peacefully through dialogue," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
Reds deny responsibility
The mostly working class Reds -- who are seeking immediate elections -- denied that they were responsible for the blasts, which shattered windows in the capital's financial district and prompted people to flee in panic.
"Whoever carried out the M79 attacks wants people to think it was done by the Reds. We will never attack innocent people," said a leader of the red-clad protest movement, Jatuporn Prompan.
The violence comes after a failed attempt by authorities on April 10 to disperse Red Shirt protesters sparked violent clashes that left 25 dead and more than 800 injured in the worst political violence in almost two decades.
Ambulances rushed away bloodied victims after the latest explosions, three of which happened at a station of the capital's elevated Skytrain, while one grenade exploded near the exclusive Dusit Thani hotel and another near a bank.
Blood on the streets
The blast scene was littered with pools of blood along with abandoned shoes and Thai flags, in an area home to dozens of corporate towers and a notorious red-light district.
Clashes later broke out between riot police and pro-government demonstrators who hurled bottles at the Reds, AFP reporters at the scene witnessed.
The military said earlier Thursday that it wanted to avoid further bloodshed but issued a strong warning for the Red Shirt demonstrators to leave their sprawling base in Bangkok's shopping and hotel district.
"We don't want you to risk your lives. If there is a clash you could be hurt by stray bullets," said army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd. "Your time is running out. Please leave the area."
Earlier this week he warned that the protesters faced tear gas and live weapons fire in any new clashes with security forces.
Abhisit called an emergency meeting with top security officials following the grenade attacks, but Sunsern said that there would be no nighttime crackdown on the protesters because it was too dangerous.
The army this week signalled it was preparing to crack down on the Red Shirt protesters, who have paralysed the capital's commercial heart as they campaign to overthrow a government they say is undemocratic and elitist.
But the Reds, who have been demonstrating in Bangkok for weeks in their bid to topple Abhisit's government, have remained defiant and ruled out talks until the military withdraws.
Army chief wants standoff to end
The army chief said Thursday that he hoped to end the standoff without any more blood being spilled.
"Whatever I do will depend on the situation, and the outcome would be good for the country and we can uphold the law with no people dead or injured," General Anupong Paojinda told AFP.
Any action "must be legally responsible", added Anupong, who was last week put in charge of security in the capital by the government.
The protesters appealed to the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Bangkok to help them.
The red protesters are mainly supporters of 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 Abhisit's government is illegitimate because it came to power in a parliamentary vote at the end of 2008 after a court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from office.
