Bangkok protests
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9:31am: The story on Thai troops approaching the temple where several hundred 'red shirt' protesters are taking shelter - www.alertnet.org
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9:35am: Will chaotic clashes continue in Thailand? Is the worst over? What damage has been done? And is a peace deal possible? Reuters try to answer these questions. uk.reuters.com
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9:47am: The BBC says Bangkok remains tense after night curfew. It says some 27 buildings had been set ablaze after protest leaders surrendered, and pockets of resistance remain. news.bbc.co.uk
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A Thai soldier stands guard near a portrait of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit at a checkpoint in central Bangkok May 21, 2010. Troops manned razor-wire roadblocks and searched vehicles for weapons in Bangkok on Friday, two days after they ended anti-government protests that descended into the worst violence in modern Thai history. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis -
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A woman offers refreshments to Thai soldiers patrolling central Bangkok May 21, 2010. Troops manned razor-wire roadblocks and searched vehicles for weapons in Bangkok on Friday, two days after they ended anti-government protests that descended into the worst violence in modern Thai history. (Reuters/Damir Sagolj)
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5:47pm: To the rural masses at the heart of Thailand's "red shirt" protest movement, he is a mold-breaking prime minister. To the Thai government, the urban middle class and the royalist elite, he is a terrorist and a crony capitalist who plundered the economy while in power. A divisive figure, Thaksin looms over the unrest that rocked Thailand this past week. www.reuters.com
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5:52pm: After days of rage in Thailand, NY Times say there is a weary calm, "but it felt, after a political convulsion unlike anything anyone here has seen, that Thailand’s future was anything but safe." www.nytimes.com
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5:57pm: The Thai capital's emergency center said on Friday it was looking into a report that nine bodies were found at a charred shopping mall set on fire after protesters were dispersed from their camp in the area. www.reuters.com
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6:01pm: Peace has been restored in the capital after the worst political violence in modern Thai history. The red shirts appear to have been crushed, their leadership has collapsed and their reputation is in ruins. However, rural Thai "red shirts" vow they will keep on fighting. www.reuters.com
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6:10pm: Thai News Agency says Bang Rak, Din Daeng, Pathum Wan, Klong Toey, Sathorn, Wattana, and Rajathewi have been declared "disaster zones" impacted by political chaos by the city's authority. www.mcot.net
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6:18pm: A blog on the Global Voices Online forum summarises the reactions of bloggers and residents to Bangkok violence with links, videos and pictures globalvoicesonline.org
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6:48pm: The body of a 24-year-old man was found on Friday at a shopping mall set on fire during riots in Bangkok, medical rescue workers said, denying earlier reports that nine bodies were retrieved. www.alertnet.org
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9:06am: Bangkok Mass Transport Authority, operator of public buses, says most bus routes in Bangkok and its suburbs will operate during 0530-2000 hours, although most routes serving Rama 4, inner Sukhumvit, Petchaburi, New Petchaburi, Rama 1, Phaya Thai roads, remain diverted. -
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8:23pm: Businesses and government offices in Bangkok are set to reopen on Monday after a week of disruption caused by anti-government red-shirt protests, the BBC says. news.bbc.co.uk
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8:24pm: The Bangkok Post's story on the extension of curfew to two more nights. www.bangkokpost.com
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A storm develops over the skies of Bangkok on the eve of May 23, 2010. Thai authorities launched a massive clean-up operation in Bangkok's charred commercial district on Sunday as the city prepared for the resumption of business after the worst riots in modern history. (Reuters/Yannis Behrakis)
Biden says United States would come to Taiwan's defense
BALTIMORE (Reuters) -The United States would come to Taiwan's defense and has a commitment to defend the island China claims as its own, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday, though the White House said later there was no change in policy towards the island.