Bangkok cut off from world as second airport seized
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai anti-government protesters shut down Bangkok's second airport on Thursday, further crippling the kingdom as tourists scrambled to leave and fears grew the crisis was deepening.
Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have blockaded the old Don Mueang airport in an attempt to prevent ministers from flying to Chiang Mai in the north to meet Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
But cabinet members slipped out of the city in small aircraft to attend the emergency meeting to discuss how to deal with a six-month campaign to topple the administration which has paralysed the functions of government.
News of the minsters' meeting comes as an aircraft taking Thai ministers to the northern city of Chiang Mai for an urgent cabinet summit was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok after developing a technical problem, the air force said.
Somchai on Wednesday refused to heed pressure from powerful army chief General Anupong Paojinda to dissolve parliament and call elections, saying: "my government will preserve democracy."
Anupong also ordered protesters to leave Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport , which they besieged late Tuesday forcing the airport to suspend flights and leaving 3,000 tourists temporarily trapped inside.
AFP
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai anti-government protesters shut down Bangkok's second airport on Thursday, further crippling the kingdom as tourists scrambled to leave and fears grew the crisis was deepening.
Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have blockaded the old Don Mueang airport in an attempt to prevent ministers from flying to Chiang Mai in the north to meet Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
But cabinet members slipped out of the city in small aircraft to attend the emergency meeting to discuss how to deal with a six-month campaign to topple the administration which has paralysed the functions of government.
News of the minsters' meeting comes as an aircraft taking Thai ministers to the northern city of Chiang Mai for an urgent cabinet summit was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok after developing a technical problem, the air force said.
Somchai on Wednesday refused to heed pressure from powerful army chief General Anupong Paojinda to dissolve parliament and call elections, saying: "my government will preserve democracy."
Anupong also ordered protesters to leave Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport , which they besieged late Tuesday forcing the airport to suspend flights and leaving 3,000 tourists temporarily trapped inside.
AFP
