Thai police fire tear gas on protesters
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Protesters lie on the ground after riot police used tear gas outside police headquarters in Bangkok. (Reuters)
Thai police fired tear gas to try to break up about 2,000 anti-government protesters gathered outside the Bangkok police headquarters, witnesses said.
Thai television also carried reports that tear gas was fired, and said the protesters quickly dispersed afterwards.
Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the protest leaders, had earlier called on thousands of people currently besieging Bangkok's main government compound to march to the nearby Bangkok Metropolitan Police headquarters.
The crowd was demanding that police turn over any officers responsible for brief clashes at Government House earlier Friday, which caused minor injuries to a handful of protesters, witnesses said.
"We want the police to send out the policemen who gave the orders and the police who hurt people," Sondhi earlier said.
"We ask them to come out by 7:00pm otherwise we will bring 100,000 protesters to surround the police headquarters."
Police officials were not immediately available to confirm the use of tear gas, but earlier in the day riot police clashed with protesters at the government compound, using shields and batons.
Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy have been barricaded in the extensive grounds of Government House since Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
- AFP
