'Twenty soldiers injured in Bangkok blast'

Twenty soldiers were injured on Saturday in a blast in Bangkok's historic district, an army spokesman said, after violent clashes between Thai security forces and anti-government protesters.

"Twenty soldiers were wounded," said Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd.

A grenade also exploded near to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's office in Government House but there were no initial reports of injuries in that blast, said an official at the complex.

More than 200 people have been injured after Thai authorities launched a crackdown on Red Shirt protesters in the capital, which has been rocked by weeks of mass rallies seeking to topple the government.

First Published: Apr 10, 2010 19:34 IST