Thai troops seal off part of tourist zone

Thai soldiers on Monday sealed off part of the Bangkok tourist district of Sukhumvit Road, but there was no sign of clashes in the area as troops battled anti-government protesters elsewhere in the capital.

Thai soldiers on Monday sealed off part of the Bangkok tourist district of Sukhumvit Road, but there was no sign of clashes in the area as troops battled anti-government protesters elsewhere in the capital.

HT Image

Razor wire and trucks blocked the road near the Nana nightlife zone popular with foreign travellers. About 100 soldiers carrying riot shields stood in formation, blocking the road in one direction.

Authorities late last week launched an operation to squeeze thousands of Red Shirt anti-government protesters encamped for weeks in an upscale retail and hotel district.

Troops were deployed to seal access to several kilometres of roads around the camp. Authorities also said they had cut utilities to the area.

Three days of clashes on the fringes of the encampment have killed 34 civilians and one soldier, and wounded 244, according to official figures.