Prime Minister Remains Opposed To New Elections

A swarm of protesters managed to effectively close a second airport in Bangkok Wednesday, one day after forcing the closure of the city's primary international airport.

Agence-France Presse reports supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) moved towards the main entrance of Don Meuang airport Wednesday evening, forcing officials to halt all flight operations around midnight.

"Protesters have blocked the entrance to the terminal therefore we closed services until 6:00 pm (1100 GMT) Thursday," said airport director Anirut Thanomkulbutra.

As ANN reported, approximately 8,000 protesters of the current Thai political regime amassed outside Suvarnabhumi Airport early Tuesday. Many were able to enter the airport, and were able to disrupt operations at the airport to the extent some 3,000 passengers were stranded.

The occupation of Suvarnabhumi has been mostly peaceful, with protesters reportedly setting up tents and food stalls inside the terminal... though at least two people at the airport were injured when a grenade exploded early Wednesday.

Other grenade attacks were reported outside Suvarnabhumi, and at Don Meuang... where current Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat had a temporary headquarters. Protesters seized control of that office this week.

PAD is a loosely-constructed coalition of opponents to Somchai's government, and supporters of Thailand's former monarchal government structure. Protesters have called for an election to oust Somchai, who they say is a puppet leader for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Somchai is currently holed up in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where he landed after returning from an economic meeting in Peru. Somchai has refused calls from Thailand's most powerful army official, General Anupong Paochinda, to hold new elections in exchange for PAD ending the standoff.

FMI: www.bangkokairportonline.com