Tag Archives: prime-minister

Explainer: Thailand’s ongoing political crisis

The declaration of a state of emergency in Thailand following violent clashes between anti-government and security forces marks the latest escalation in a long-running political crisis which has plunged the southeast Asian country into frequent bouts of disorder and instability. This weekend’s protests, which included forcing the postponement of a summit of Asian leaders in the southern coastal city of Pattaya and demonstrations on the streets of Bangkok, were orchestrated by red-shirted supporters of the controversial and corruption-tainted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

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Protests wipe smile from Thai tourism sector

The "Land of Smiles" is growing grim as the political maelstrom in Thailand threatens to further erode the southeast Asian nation’s battered tourism industry. Thailand has been a popular destination since its spectacular beaches were discovered four decades ago by backpacking travelers and U.S. troops on leave from Vietnam

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Protesters step up violence in Thailand

Thai army soldiers fired a volley of gunshots on Monday on the streets of Bangkok as they advanced toward anti-government protesters demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down. It was not immediately known whether the troops fired rubber bullets or live gunshots. Demonstrators commandeered at least two buses, rigged the steering wheels and sent them toward police officers — who fired at the vehicles in response

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Thai police say protest leader arrested

The leader of an anti-government protest that forced cancellation of a summit in Thailand was arrested Sunday and charged with instigating people to break the law, police said. Arismun Pongruengrong was being interrogated after his arrest at his residence, a police spokesman said

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Thai anti-government protesters picket summit

Hundreds of anti-government protesters amassed outside a hotel hosting a major Asian summit as they continued their demand Friday for Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down. Some of the protesters and police engaged in shoving and shouting matches outside the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel in the beach resort city of Pattaya. But the demonstrations have been without incident otherwise.

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UK terror chief quits after security blunder

Britain’s top counter-terrorism officer has resigned, the London mayor’s office said Thursday, a day after he accidentally exposed a sensitive document about a terrorism investigation. Police were forced to bring forward the timing of a series of raids after Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick unwittingly revealed the names of those to be arrested. Quick was photographed as he got out of a car at Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s residence in London and the names were easily to read when the images were enlarged.

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Anti-government protesters amass in Thailand

About 50,000 anti-government demonstrators amassed Wednesday in the capital in a push to topple Thailand’s prime minister. The “Red Shirt” protesters — named for the color of their shirts — had gathered outside Government House in Bangkok, according to the chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Demonstrations have intensified in recent weeks to destabilize the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

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Grandson of Zimbabwe’s prime minister drowns

The 2-year-old grandson of Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai drowned in a swimming pool, barely a month after Tsvangirai’s wife died in a car crash, according to his spokesman. The child, Sean Tsvangirai, was at Tsvangirai’s house in Harare when he was found drowned in a swimming pool Saturday afternoon. “He had wandered off and was found later in the pool of the house,” said Tsvangirai spokesman James Maridadi

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