Thai army calls on government to quit

Thailand’s embattled Prime Minister has rejected calls that he dissolve parliament and call new elections. The chief of the Thai army said he expected to be sacked for making his appeal, in the face of the worsening political crisis in Bangkok.

Senior officers also refused to launch a coup saying it would not help the situation.

The army demanded protestors leave Bangkok’s airport, where thousands of tourists were stranded inside overnight. Some were allowed to leave this morning, being bused to hotels, but many have no idea when they will be able to fly home.

The situation remains tense, with protestors and police in a face-off, and travellers caught in between. Until now they have been able to avoid violence, but overnight grenades went off in the airport and in the capital, injuring several people.

The airport’s control tower has been occupied along with the terminal buildings, creating headaches for the world’s airlines who use Bangkok as a major regional hub.

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tags: Bangkok Thailand, Prime Minister, Thailand