New violence mars moves toward Thai compromise

Hopes for an end to Thailand's political crisis are diminishing following a new eruption of violence that killed two policemen and wounded 13 people in double night-time attacks.

The attacks came after the so-called Red Shirt movement signalled they were in general agreement with a government reconciliation plan and might soon end the protracted demonstrations that have shut down much of Bangkok's commercial district.

The protest movement denied involvement in the latest attacks and indicated that its occupation would continue while it sought a deal with the government, saying the two were not mutually exclusive.

"No matter who and whatever is trying to obstruct us, we will carry on our protest (in central Bangkok)," Weng Tojirakarn, a protest leader, said Saturday.

The protesters, known as the Red Shirts, say they agree in principle with a proposal by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve Parliament and hold new polls - their key demands - but want more specific details and assurance that Abhisit has the full support of his coalition partners and other political actors.

But late on Friday night, the sense of relative calm that has prevailed for several days was disturbed by a mysterious incident near where grenades exploded on April 22, killing one person and wounding several others.

The area, close to an encampment of the protesters, is guarded by many police and soldiers.

A witness, Decha Phoonpanang, said either a small explosive or gunshots whizzed past him, shattering the glass storefront of a bank and hitting two policemen - one in the stomach - and a man in the leg.

A spokesman for nearby Chulalongkorn Hospital said the policemen had been admitted there, and one needed an immediate operation, but would not provide further details.

The official Erawan emergency centre said the incident involved multiple gunshots, and that one of the policemen had died.

A wounded but conscious woman and a 58-year-old man, fully conscious with minor wounds, were admitted to two other hospitals.

Slightly more than two hours later, about three explosions could be heard in an adjacent street that fronts a park. The Erawan centre said four soldiers had been wounded, though Thai media reported that the casualties were police officers. Other soldiers quickly cordoned off the area next to Lumpini Park.

Associated Press reporters saw some shrapnel and indentation in the road that appeared to have been caused by an explosion, as well as a trail of blood. No official information was immediately released about the incident.

Earlier Friday, the Red Shirts - formally known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or UDD - reiterated their commitment to join the government's reconciliation process.

"If everything ends without violence or loss of lives, the UDD will not consider that a victory of any particular party - not the Red Shirts, not the government, but the whole country," said Nattawut Saikua, one of the group's leaders.

"We have not decided when to end the protest," he added.

Other activists who oppose the Red Shirts have denounced the peace offering as a capitulation and demanded that Abhisit clear their encampments or step down.

Some factions on all sides oppose a settlement, making it difficult to pinpoint an obvious suspect in the new violence.

The nearly two-month stand-off in Bangkok has hammered the economy, decimated the tourist industry and ground government machinery to a near halt. Clashes with soldiers and other violence earlier killed 27 people and injured nearly 1,000.

Abhisit unveiled a proposal that included new elections on Nov. 14 - about a year before his term would end - if the protesters left their encampment in the heart of the Thai capital. The Parliament must be dissolved at least 45 days before the elections.

The plan includes respect for the monarchy, reforms to resolve economic injustice, media reforms, independent investigations of violence connected with the protests, and amending the constitution to be more fair to all political parties.

But the date of the dissolution of Parliament has since become a sticking point, with the Red Shirts insisting it be specified and Abhisit saying only it would happen in time for the November election, but possibly as early as September. No date would be fixed if the Red Shirts did not agree to the plan, said the prime minister.

"Abhisit, don't you dare threaten us that if we don't do what you say in the five-point plan, you will not dissolve Parliament," another Red Shirt leader, Jatuporn Prompan, said Friday night. "We are calling - not begging - for House dissolution."

The timing is a crucial issue because a key reshuffle of top military posts is scheduled for September, and the protesters don't want Abhisit at the helm then.

It's not clear if a caretaker government, which would run the country after Parliament is dissolved, would be allowed to make the appointments.

The military holds tremendous power in Thailand, and the Red Shirts, who draw most of their supporters from the rural and urban poor, view Abhisit's government as the illegitimate product of back-room deals and military pressure on legislators.

The protest group includes supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 military coup following accusations of corruption and abuse of power.

- AP