The Thai government has claimed that the army was successful in its initial push to clear a protest zone in central Bangkok.

The renegade army general who worked for Thailand’s Red Shirt protesters died today, five days after he was shot by a sniper.

THAILAND’S government insisted a crackdown on Red Shirt protesters will continue despite their plea for UN-mediated talks to end four days of street clashes with troops that have killed 30 people.

THAI troops fired bullets at anti-government protesters, and explosions thundered in the heart of Bangkok yesterday as an army push to clear the streets and end a two-month political standoff sparked clashes that have killed eight and wounded 101.

Protesters in the Thai capital reinforced their encampment today as government efforts to blockade them overnight led to sporadic violence that killed one man and saw a high-profile Red Shirt military leader shot in the head.

Thailand’s army said today it would begin limiting supplies of water, food and electricity to protesters camped in central Bangkok in a bid to clear the streets by midnight.

Troops shut down railway stations in the Thai capital today after anti-government protesters broke into a station and threw tyres on the platform in their campaign for immediate elections.

Thailand moved today to close a refugee camp and send 4,000 ethnic Hmong back to Laos, despite concerns about their safety.

Thailand today declared a state of emergency in Pattaya, the city hosting a summit of Asian leaders, and cancelled the event for security reasons after more than 1,000 anti-government protesters stormed the venue.

THE Thai government is seeking closer links with Muslim countries, part of a two-pronged strategy to end separatist violence in three of its southern provinces.