France 24 reporter wounded in Thai clashes

Reporter Nelson Rand, from RFI's sister TV station France24, was shot in the leg during clashes in the Thai capital Friday. Government forces fired on Red Shirt protesters, resulting in panic after Thursday's death of one protester and wounding of General Khattiya Sawasdipol.

Reuters

Thailand's fugitive ex-premier  Thaksin Shinawatra called on the government Friday to pull back troops and restart negotiations with his "Red Shirt" supporters .

A spokesperson for the emergency services said one person had died and 12 were injured following the army's attempt  to disperse about 2,000 protesters from their heavily fortified encampments. Troops were seen firing into Lumpini Park and Suan Lum Night Bazaar.

In the bazaar, protesters set fire to an empty police bus and vandalised army vehicles. Around the wider protest area, which extends for several square kilometres, soldiers blocked roads and set up checkpoints.  

As part of the operation, some of Bangkok's commuter rail system was shut, including a section through the key tourist area of Sukhumvit Road.  The electricity company also cut off power to part of the capital.

The army had warned Thursday that it would deploy snipers around the Reds' protest site and use armoured vehicles to prevent more demonstrators from joining in.

The protesters have occupied central Bangkok for two months, crippling an upscale retail district.