Bangkok

Thai shares down 4.18 per cent on political chaos

Bangkok - While most Asian bourses rebounded Tuesday, Thailand's market dropped more than 4 per cent on concerns over ongoing political chaos in the streets.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand index ended at 528.71, down 23.09 points or 4.18 per cent.

"Everywhere else bourses were rebounding except here, because of the political situation," said Phuwadol Labudomsak, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities.

Thailand was rocked by a new wave of political chaos Tuesday when anti-government protestors surrounded Parliament after police failed to disperse them with tear gas. The violent clashes left one person dead and at least 70 injured, including three who lost limbs from explosions.

Anti-government protest draws blood in Bangkok

Bangkok - An anti-government protest turned bloody Tuesday, claiming at least one dead and about a hundred injured as police confronted followers of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to help legislators first get in and then get out of Parliament.

Riot police early Tuesday scattered thousands of PAD followers who had laid siege to Parliament, firing teargas into the crowd, injuring about 70 people, in order to clear a path for members of the lower and upper houses to hold a session to announce the new government's policy statement.

The teargas assault allowed the legislators into Parliament but failed to disperse the protestors.

Thai police use tear gas to disperse protest at Parliament

Bangkok - Thai police use tear gas to disperse protest at Parliament Thai police shot tear gas Monday at thousands of supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who have besieged Parliament to block the government's reading of a policy statement and plans to amend the constitution.

"I call on our followers from all over the country to come to Bangkok to join us," said PAD leader Somsak Kohsaisuk. "The police are using tear gas, bombs and guns on us."

Several PAD followers suffered broken legs, burns and other injuries in the crackdown, Thai TV Channel 3 showed.

Thousands march on Thai Parliament

Thousands march on Thai ParliamentBangkok - Thousands of supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) marched on the Thai Parliament Monday from Government House, which they have held hostage since August 26.

PAD leaders said they would lay siege to parliament to block a new move to amend the constitution, expected to be initiated this week when a new cabinet under recently appointed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is scheduled to announce its policies.

The PAD is a loose coalition of groups opposed to the return to power of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup on September 19, 2006.

Thai shares tumble 6.4 per cent on multiple worries

thailandBangkok - Thai shares lost 6.4 per cent of their value Monday in what was believed to be the steepest fall in Asia as investors pulled money out of regional bourses.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index ended at 551.80, down 38.25 points or 6.4 per cent.

"All markets were down today but Thailand's fell hard because there are also concerns about our political situation," said Mongkol Phuengphaetha, an analyst at Adkinsons Securities.

Opposition politician wins Bangkok governorship again

Bangkok - Apirak KosayodhinApirak Kosayodhin, a deputy leader of the opposition Democrat Party, swept Bangkok's gubernatorial election over the weekend, winning almost half of the votes in the 16- candidate race, according to official results announced Monday.

Apirak, Bangkok governor for the last four years, retained his job in Sunday's gubernatorial election, in which he won 991,018 votes, or 45.93 per cent of the total, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) said.

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