Asia-Pacific

Thailand to impose curfew in parts of Bangkok

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-16 15:58

BANGKOK - Thai authorities plan to impose curfew in parts of Bangkok, Thai Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Sunday.

The authorities would announce later Sunday which parts will come under curfew, the army spokesman said on national television.

Thai News Agency reported earlier that the Thai government's Center for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) was going to discuss at 14:00 on Sunday about imposing curfew in the capital of Bangkok in a move to further pressure the anti-government protesters to disperse.

Earlier, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the CRES meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, was considering whether the curfew declaration is needed.

The latest development has followed Abhisit's address to the nation at 8:30 pm on Saturday saying that it is necessary for the CRES to keep pressure on the "red-shirts" to end their over- two-month long rally in central Bangkok in a bid to restore normalcy and reduce damages.

The death toll from three days of clashes between Thai troops and anti-government protesters in central Bangkok has risen to 25, while more than 200 people have been injured, the emergency medical service center in the capital said earlier Sunday.