Thai protesters to end siege of government HQ

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Anti-government protesters said Monday they will end their siege of government headquarters and join thousands of fellow demonstrators who have occupied Bangkok's main airport.

Parnthep Puapongpan, a spokesman for the People's Alliance for Democracy -- which is leading the protests -- did not say how soon the demonstrators will end their sit-in at the Government House.

The protesters have camped out at the government headquarters since August 26, forcing lawmakers to meet elsewhere. Thousands of them have also taken control of Suvarnabhumi international airport, grounding flights and stranding an estimated 100,000 passengers.

Earlier Monday, anti-government protesters at the international airport allowed 37 commercial aircraft to leave for a naval base where people can try to catch flights home, an airport authority spokeswoman said.

All but one of the aircraft landed at the U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield about 140 km (90 miles) southeast of Bangkok, spokeswoman Monrudee Gettuphan said.

The protesters seized the airport on Tuesday, vowing not to withdraw until the government resigns.

The anti-government alliance also has taken over another smaller airport, which the government had been using as its temporary office after being shut out of its headquarters.

By Saturday, demonstrators parked their cars on the main highway leading to the international airport. They also set up several checkpoints along the surrounding roads, using razor wire, abandoned cars and airport luggage carts. Masked men milled about, wielding metal sticks and baseball bats.

At times, the protests have turned violent. A pair of explosions injured 49 people -- three of them seriously -- when what was believed to be a grenade was launched at protesters at government house, said Dr. Petchpong Kumjornkijjakarn, director of the Eruwan Rescue Center.

Later, police said there was another blast on a road in front of Don Mueang Airport, the smaller of two airports being occupied by protesters.

Government house has been under the control of the protesters for the past three months.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat declared a state of emergency at the two airports last week, but it is unclear what powers the declaration gives the government. The next day, he reassigned the police chief, dissatisfied with the latter's handling of the demonstrations.

About 60,000 tourists arrive at Thailand's international airport daily. Each day it remains closed, airport authorities lose about 50 million baht ($1.4 million) in income, according to the Thai News Agency.

Thailand's powerful army chief has urged Somchai to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections. He also asked the protesters to disperse. Both sides have ignored his remarks.

The army has said it will not stage a coup to end the crisis.

The anti-government alliance accuses the current administration -- led by the People Power Party (PPP) -- of being a proxy government for one-time Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006, but he returned to Thailand after the PPP swept into power in December 2007.

Then, in August, he fled again just as he was to appear in a corruption case against him.

The anti-government protesters want Thaksin extradited and tried on those charges. It also accuses the PPP government of wanting to amend the constitution so Thaksin does not have to face charges.

The protesters have held almost-daily demonstrations since May. They seized government house in late August, fortifying it with sandbags, tires and shells of burned-out buses.

CNN's Dan Rivers and Kocha Olarn contributed to this report

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