Thai PM declares state of emergency in Bangkok

Bangkok: Thailand's prime minister declared a state of emergency in the capital on Tuesday, empowering the military to restore order after street fighting between supporters and opponents of the government left one man dead and dozens injured.

The violence - the most serious since the protests began - followed a threat by state workers to cut off water, electricity and phone service at government offices and disrupt flights of the national airline in support of protesters trying to bring down Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

"I did it to solve the problems of the country," Samak said in televised comments, hours after the emergency decree was announced. "Because the situation turned out this way, I had no other choice."

The measure allows the use of military forces in policing activities, limits public gatherings, bans news reports that could instigate violence, and allows security officials to clear public roads, buildings and other areas. It would also permit the military to immediately oust the protesters occupying the prime minister's premises.

A week of political tension exploded into violence early on Tuesday morning between protesters seeking to topple Samak and mobs of his supporters.

About 500 Samak supporters marched through the streets proclaiming they were going to retake the prime minister's office compound, which has been occupied since August 26 by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The mob scuffled with police about halfway to the Government House complex, then battled with alliance members, both sides wielding sticks and clubs.

One person died from severe head injuries and four others were in serious condition, two with gunshot wounds, hospital officials said. At least 37 people were being treated for injuries at several hospitals.