THE incoming captain of one of Ireland’s top golf clubs could be left bunkered by the airport crisis in Bangkok.

ATTACKERS set off explosions at anti-government protest sites yesterday, wounding 51 people and raising fears of widening confrontations in Thailand’s worst political crisis that has strangled its economy and shut down its main airports.

Government supporters from the Thai countryside converged on the capital today to counter rival protesters who seized control of Bangkok’s two airports and forced the prime minister to run the country from afar.

More than 450 Thai Muslims stranded at Bangkok’s besieged airport for four days have been bussed to a military base to board a plane for the hajj pilgrimage.

At least 51 anti-government protesters were wounded in several explosions, raising fears of widening confrontations in a stand-off that has strangled Thailand’s economy and shut down its airports.

Thailand’s government backed off today from its threat to forcibly remove protesters occupying Bangkok’s two airports, dashing hopes of quick resolution to a stand-off that has stranded thousands of travellers.

Protesters holding Bangkok’s airports were facing a crackdown tonight as the government warned it would use force to remove them.

Thousands of stranded tourists will be flown out of Thai military bases in the next 48 hours, the country’s tourism minister promised today.

Thai authorities shut down Bangkok’s second airport today after it was overrun by anti-government protesters, cutting off the capital from air traffic as the prime minister rejected their demands to resign.

THAI prime minister Somchai Wongsawat last night rejected his army chief’s call to quit in the face of anti- government protests that threaten to spiral out of control across the country.

Thailand’s prime minister refused to step down tonight despite protesters bringing the country’s biggest airport to a standstill and a call for new elections from the army’s head.

Protesters who brought Bangkok airport to a standstill stranding thousands of travellers refused a plea from the country’s army chief to halt their action today.

Tourists today spoke of “chaos and confusion” after they were caught in anti-government protests that have forced the closure of Bangkok airport.

Thailand’s main international airport cancelled all flights today as protesters thronged the complex in an effort to bring down the government.

ANTI-GOVERNMENT demonstrators swarmed Bangkok’s international airport late last night, halting departing flights, as opponents and supporters of Thailand’s government fought in the streets of the city.

Bangkok airport was brought to a standstill by anti-government protesters today.

THOUSANDS of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Thai capital Bangkok yesterday, forcing Parliament to shut down in what activists called their “final showdown” to oust an allegedly corrupt administration.

Thousands of anti-government protesters fanned out across Bangkok today, forcing Thailand’s Parliament to shut down and a group of riot police to retreat to their headquarters in what the activists called their final bid to oust a corrupt administration.

A grenade attack on anti-government protesters occupying the Thai prime minister’s office killed one person and wounded at least 23 early today.

The Philippines will not grant political asylum to former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after his British visa was revoked, preventing him from returning to London where he has been living in exile, an official said today.

Thailand's exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra told tens of thousands of supporters in his homeland that he could not return as long as he had a jail sentence hanging over him.

Britain will be asked to extradite former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra after he was convicted of corruption charges today.

Cambodia’s prime minister issued an ultimatum to Thailand to withdraw troops from a disputed border area today or face a “life-and-death battle zone”.

Thailand’s embattled prime minister has dismissed calls for his resignation, saying that stepping down would not resolve the country’s deepening political crisis.

A THAI court dropped charges of insurrection yesterday against the main leaders of a protest movement bidding to topple the government, two days after the worst street unrest in Bangkok for 16 years.

Anti-government protesters have vowed to avenge those killed and injured in clashes this week with the police.

Thailand suffered its worst political violence in more than 16 years as police battled protesters who besieged the Parliament in their struggle to change the country’s system of democracy.

Thai riot police today clashed with thousands of protesters who barricaded Parliament and vowed to block the government from leaving.

Police fired tear gas canisters today at several thousand demonstrators trying to bar politicians from Thailand’s Parliament, injuring scores of them and heating up a political crisis that has gripped the country for six weeks.

Thailand’s Election Commission will open an investigation into whether new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat should resign for violating the constitution.

A brother-in-law of deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra was elected the new prime minister of Thailand in a parliamentary vote today.

THAILAND’S ruling People Power Party (PPP) nominated a brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra as its pick for prime minister yesterday, antagonising protesters who accuse the government of being a puppet of the ousted leader.

Thailand’s ruling party has endorsed the brother-in-law of deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra as its nominee to become the next prime minister.

THAILAND’S acting prime minister has lifted a state of emergency in Bangkok, urging all sides in a political standoff to find a peaceful compromise and restore the country’s image as “The Land of Smiles”.

Thailand’s ousted leader Samak Sundaravej today accepted the endorsement of the country’s ruling party to return as prime minister.