Grenades wound two soldiers amid Thai protests
Posted: 15 March 2010 1600 hrs

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BANGKOK : Grenade attacks on a Bangkok military base wounded two soldiers Monday as tens of thousands of anti-government protesters massed at another barracks in the Thai capital, a military spokesman said.

Four M-79 grenades exploded at the base in the centre of the capital at 1:30 pm (0630 GMT), injuring one soldier in the arm and the other in the stomach, army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said.

"Initially we suspect that the grenades were fired from a car," said Sunsern. "At the moment we have no information on the perpetrators." He said another one or two grenades had been fired at the base but did not explode.

The male soldiers, aged 23 and 49, where admitted to Bangkok's army-run King Mongkut hospital, where their condition was described as not life-threatening.

The incident happened as crowds of red-shirted protesters left their picket in front of the 11th infantry army barracks on Bangkok's northern outskirts, where the government has been housed, to press their demand for snap elections.

Monday's incident was the first reported violence in Bangkok since the supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra gathered in the capital demanding that current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva call snap polls.

Abhisit instructed officials to upgrade security measures in light of the attacks, said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn. "We will try our best to arrest the suspects," he added.

The so-called "Red Shirts" have insisted they will remain peaceful but authorities have deployed a 50,000-strong security force across Bangkok and surrounding provinces, under a strict security law.

Abhisit, who last week warned there could be "sabotage" during the protests, on Monday rejected an ultimatum from the Red Shirts, who said he would face mounting demonstrations unless he gives in.

Protest leader Veera Musikapong said they would slowly return from the army barracks to the main rally ground in the city's historic quarter after Abhisit refused their demands, and leaders would meet to plan their next move.

- AFP /ls