Thai army urges prime minister to resign as chaos escalates

Army generals in Thailand are calling on the government to step aside and call a snap election to help end the growing political crisis in the country.

The army chief, General Anupong Paochinda, told the opposition group, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) that it should discontinue its occupation of the Bangkok international airport and put an end to its anti-government protest campaign.

Protesters tightened their hold on Suvarnabhumi airport, while the chaos at the terminal increased and speculation continued to grow regarding military intervention to end the standoff. The PAD leader, Sondhi Limthongul, immediately rejected the possibility of talks with the government to end the blockade.

“You must quit first before we sit down and talk with you,” he said to the cheering mob of protestors at the airport.

Gen Anupong continues to insist that the military will not stage a coup, just two years after they removed former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, from office. He has publicly urged the current prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, to step down.

On Wednesday the prime minister returned to Thailand from the APEC summit in Peru, and arrived at the northern Thailand airport of Chiang Mai, as rumours circulated that he would declare a state of emergency.

According to the Bangkok Post, masked members of the PAD invaded Suvarnabhumi Airport’s control tower.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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