Thailand's government and hospital authorities said two men were killed in protests in Bangkok on Monday, saying they were shot in clashes between demonstrators and local residents.
"One hour ago there was a serious clash near Government House between protesters and local residents," cabinet minister Satit Wonghnongtaey said on local television.
Residents near Government House, the office of embattled prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, armed themselves and set up roadblocks as night fell on the tense city where a state of emergency was declared on Saturday.
Satit said that three residents had been shot by protesters, clad in red shirts and loyal to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, and that one 54-year-old had died in hospital.
An official at the Shua Chiew Hospital said that a 19-year-old man had also been killed and five others injured and taken for treatment at the private hospital near the clash site.
"A 19-year-old man was killed with gun shots to the abdomen while the other five people sent from the same clash were injured," a spokeswoman told AFP.
Satit said that hundreds of police and military have been deployed to "stabilise the situation" at Government House, which is the main rallying point for the "Red Shirts."
{{/usCountry}}Satit said that hundreds of police and military have been deployed to "stabilise the situation" at Government House, which is the main rallying point for the "Red Shirts."
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