19 die, 825 injured in Bangkok clashes
BANGKOK. April 12. KAZINFORM. The death toll in Saturday night's clashes between protesters and security forces has risen to 19 while the number of the injured went up to 825, according to the updated information of the Erawan emergency medical center by 6:00 a.m. Sunday; Kazinform refers to China Daily.
The center of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said that the injured are being treated in the General, Hua Chiew, Mission, Phra Mongkutkhao and other hospitals.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in a nationally- televised TV speech Saturday night, expressed sorrow for the deaths in the clashes and promised to conduct an independent probe into the deaths.
The clashes occurred Saturday afternoon and evening as the government tried to retake the Ratchaprasong Intersection and Phan Fah Bridge, two major rally sites for the anti-government "red- shirts", who have been staging a rolling rally in Bangkok since March 12 demanding a House dissolution. The situation seemed getting out of control as the "red-shirts" protesters and security forces started to exchange fire and throw grenades at the Khokwua intersection, 700m away from the Phan Fah Bridge, at about 8:10 p. m.; Kazinform cites China Daily.