Protestors holding sticks stand after the intervention of riot policemen in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, early Sept. 2, 2008. [Xinhua Photo]

The PAD leaders also called on supporters in the South to shut down the airports in the tourist hubs Hat Yai and Phuket.

PAD supporters already stormed the two airports and another one in southern resort Krabi last Friday, causing temporary closure of the airports, suspension and cancellation of many flights, and left many passengers, including hundreds of foreign tourists, stranded at the airport or forced to take other transportation means to get back to their countries. The Hat Yai and Phuket airports resumed operation later.

After the early morning clashes occurred, which has seen nearly 40 people injured and at least one confirmed dead, the First Army Region despatched four companies of soldiers, at about 400, to help riot police quell the unrest on an order by Army Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda.

Thousands of police from Bangkok were also deployed to the clash site.

Violence broke when the DAAD-led pro-government protesters led by the Democrat Alliance, estimated at some 3,000 people, marched after midnight towards the Government House, which has been occupied by PAD protesters since Aug. 26 in its showdown attempt to oust the Samak cabinet.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2008)