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Thai Protesters, Government Exchange Blame for Grenade Attacks

   Daniel Schearf | Bangkok 23 April 2010
   An  anti-government demonstrators climbs up a makeshift barricade with
   sharp sticks in Bangkok

Photo: AP

   An  anti-government demonstrators climbs up a makeshift barricade with
   sharp sticks in Bangkok, Thailand, 23 Apr 2010

   Thai  anti-government protesters have denied they were responsible for
   grenade  attacks  in  the  capital, Bangkok, which killed at least one
   person and injured scores more.
   Deputy  Prime  Minister  Suthep  Thaugsuban  says  grenades fired on a
   commercial area came from an anti-government camp.
   But  the  red-shirt protesters Friday denied they were responsible and
   say they only shot fireworks into the sky.
   Amnuay works at a nearby hotel and supports the protests.
   "You  supposed  to  come here to find evidence first, you know, before
   you say something," he said.  "He just said right away, you know, one
   hour after the bombs. He said right away that the bomb came from us."
   On  Friday  morning,  hundreds  of  police  moved  away from red-shirt
   barricades, easing tensions.
   Expectations are rising that the military soon will use force to clear
   the  protesters,  who  have  occupied  an  upscale commercial area for
   weeks.  They  demand  that  the  government  step  down  and  call new
   elections.
   The  United States urges both sides to avoid violence and to negotiate
   a solution.

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