Bangkok: A series of blasts that rocked Bangkok's business district late yesterday killed three people and wounded more than 70, Thailand's deputy prime minister said.
"Three people died and more than 70 were injured," Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters.
Five grenades were fired into a crowd of pro-government demonstrators who were facing off with rival anti-government Red Shirt protesters in the heart of the Thai capital, officials and witnesses said.
Witnesses said at least one foreigner was among the wounded, and at least one of the explosions hit outside the headquarters of Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand's biggest agribusiness group. Another landed near the Dusit Thani Hotel.
Hundreds of troops, many armed with M-16 assault rifles, have poured into the area since Monday to stop thousands of anti-government protesters from marching to the bustling district that also houses go-go bars.
Not far from the explosions, tens of thousands of red-shirted supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have fortified their redoubt in a Bangkok commercial district with home-made barricades, expecting the army to evict them any time.
Neither side shows any sign of backing down after the army's chaotic attempt to evict protesters from another site on April 10 that led to the deaths of 25 people and wounded more than 800.
The army again warned it would forcibly disperse the mostly rural and urban poor red shirts who have led nearly seven weeks of protests demanding elections.
"Your days are numbered," army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday. "If you leave now, you won't be prosecuted. But if you wait until the security forces enter ... you could also be hit by stray bullets during clashes."
