Thai Deputy PM Quits as Clashes Injure 100

Protesters barricade government inside parliament after police tear-gassing
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 7, 2008 6:44 AM CDT
Thai Deputy PM Quits as Clashes Injure 100
Anti-government protesters celebrate after seizing back a street during a demonstration outside Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008.    (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)

Thailand's deputy PM has resigned after fierce clashes between anti-government protesters and police outside the country's parliament injured at least 100 people and killed one, Reuters reports. Police fired tear gas canisters into a crowd of 5,000 people protesting new prime minister Somchai Wongsawat's first policy speech, causing serious injuries. Two men had part of their legs blown off.

The deputy PM took responsibility and stepped down, saying he had ordered police to use restraint against the protesters. Somchai and several ministers climbed a fence and boarded a helicopter to escape but hundreds of lawmakers are still barricaded inside the parliament, AFP reports. Enraged protesters are throwing firecrackers at riot police and a sewage truck has dumped its load outside police headquarters.
(More Thailand stories.)

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