Thailand protestors seize TV satellite station

The spasm of violence at the compound 35 miles north of Bangkok was the most serious confrontation in nearly a month of demonstrations designed to force the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva to quit and call fresh elections.

Thousands of "red shirt" demonstrators loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra, the ex-prime minister surrounded the Thaicom compound, which was eventually abandoned by the police.

Protestors had scaled a moat guarded with razor wire to force open the front gates, a move that prompted the security forces to abandon their weapons, shields, and body armour which could be seen floating on the water. Last night the management of the company, Thaicom, agreed to put the "red shirt" protesters' fiery People TV - or PTV - back on air after negotiating with their leaders despite a government ruling that it remain blocked.

The government pulled the plug on PTV under the state of emergency decree saying that the channel that broadcasts rallies and propaganda speeches was putting out false information.

The government has deployed 30,000 personnel across the capital Bangkok which has been the focus of the demonstrations where thousands of "red shirts" have blocked roads and shut glitzy shopping malls since the weekend.
A court issued arrest warrants for 17 "red shirt" leaders - including the three most senior - but all are still conducting their rallies and so far none of them have been seized.

Mr Abhisit had been due in Hanoi at a summit south-east Asian leaders, but cancelled his trip at the last moment in order manage the increasingly-tense situation at home, though he shows no signs of bowing to the protesters' demands.

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