by Shen Min     

    BANGKOK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport was paralyzed on Wednesday, with most flights canceled for the day, after protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) expanded their besiege on state agencies to the airport on Tuesday evening in a showdown to topplethe government led by premier Somchai Wongsawat.

    The escalated political confrontation is expected to cause more loss to the country's image and tourism industry.

Anti-government protesters block Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport November 25, 2008. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport was paralyzed on Wednesday, with most flights canceled for the day, after protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) expanded their besiege on state agencies to the airport on Tuesday evening in a showdown to topplethe government led by premier Somchai Wongsawat.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Thousands of passengers, many of them foreigners, were stranded at the airport after the PAD stormed into the passenger terminal, blocked the toll way towards the airport on Tuesday evening, prompting the Airports of Thailand (AOT) to shut down the airport's operation after 9:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) for now.

    To add to the tensity, four explosions happened early Wednesday morning near the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueangdomestic airport, injuring at least 12 people.

    The PAD announced Wednesday that the protesters would occupy and shut down the Suvanarbhumi airport until Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resigns.

    Some foreign embassies, including those of China and United States, have warned its citizens against travelling to Thailand for now or staying away from demonstration sites in the country to avoid possible harm.

    Thai airliners on Wednesday canceled most of their international flights outbound or inbound. On Tuesday night, some international flights heading to Suvarnabhumi were forced to shift destinations to land at nearby countries like Singapore or other provincial airports in Thailand like Chiang Mai, or return to origins.

    Thai Airways International (THAI), the country's flagship carrier on Wednesday that its 16 flights initially scheduled to land at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the day were diverted to Don Mueang airport and U-Tapao airport in Chon Buri province, some 200kilometers from Bangkok.

    All its inbound and outbound flights from Suvarnabhumi are temporarily suspended until the airport resumes normal operations, the company's statement said.

    Bangkok Airways announced that it canceled 24 domestic and international flights to and from the Suvarnabhumi Airport Wednesday.

    The budget airliner Thai Air Asia said its 28 flights to and from Suvarnabhumi on Wednesday were canceled.

    Serirat Prasutanon, director of the Suvarnabhumi airport, said the PAD besiege caused the airport to lose about 50 million baht (1.43 million U.S. dollars) of income daily. Some 700 flights use the airport daily, but now most of them were canceled.

    The PAD protests, especially the intrusion into airports, are expected to deal another big blow to the already sluggish Thai economy, which is foreign-investment and tourism-oriented, at a time just weeks away from the peak tourist season during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

    Olarn Chaipravat, Deputy Prime Minister overseeing economic policy, acknowledged that the PAD protests would undermine the country's image abroad and hurt investor confidence.

    "They (PAD) have the right to protest, but they must consider the rights of others. And they should also consider the damage caused to the entire country," Olarn was quoted by Bangkok Post assaying.

    The PAD stormed airports in key tourist hubs in the country, prompting brief shutdowns of Krabi, Phuket and Hat Yai airports in Thai south in August when they seized state agencies and occupied the Government House, in their first mass battle to bring down the Somchai government, which the PAD said is a proxy of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

    The government had to set up a temporary office at the Don Mueang airport, the former Bangkok International Airport before Suvarnabhumi opened in September, 2006, and now used for domestic and military use.

    On Tuesday, the PAD besieged Don Mueang airport at initial reports that the charter plane boarding Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from Peru was to land there. But the flight was reportedly delayed and the premier was expected to arrive in Thailand on Wednesday en route a yet-to-confirm provincial airport.

    Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), predicted that the Thai tourism business will suffer great loss next year because of the political turmoil.

    Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kohsurat said authorities were working with the Thai Travel Agents Association and Airports of Thailand to assist tourists and advise on alternative travel routes to Suvarnabhumi airport.

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport was paralyzed on Wednesday, with most flights canceled for the day, after protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) expanded their besiege on state agencies to the airport on Tuesday evening in a showdown to topplethe government led by premier Somchai Wongsawat.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Four bombings rock Bangkok
   BANGKOK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least four rounds of bomb attacks rocked Bangkok early Wednesday, injuring at least 12 people, local media reported.

    The attacks, since 4:30 a.m. (2130 GMT Tuesday) to 6:30 a.m. (2330 GMT Tuesday) Wednesday, aimed at two main airports of Bangkokwhile three exploded at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and one blast at the Don Muang Airport. Full story

Thai political turmoil deepens amid continuous protests

   BANGKOK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of chanting protesters wearing yellow T-shirts and waving national flags have demonstrated on two consecutive days in what they say is an effort to topple the Thai government.

    Analysts say it would be no easy job to end the years-long political turmoil that has been marked by accusations and unceasing protests and that the turbulence will cause Thailand's economy additional disturbances. Full story　

Bangkok in almost anarchy as confrontation upgrades

   BANGKOK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The "City of Angles" on Tuesday was in chaos as anti-government protesters seized the temporary administration seat -- Don Mueang airport, clashed with pro-government taxi drivers, forcing the Cabinet to indefinitely postpone its weekly meeting.

    The anarchy turned violent when protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Tuesday evening clashed with a group of pro-government taxi drivers on Vibhavadi Road, leaving at least 11 injured. Two of the taxi drivers suffered gunshot wounds. Full story

Thai PM insists premiership despite protest

    BANGKOK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat insists not to step down or dissolve the House of Representatives despite the latest rally staged by anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protestors, government spokesman Nattawut Saikua said Tuesday.

    Nattawut was quoted by The Nation news network as saying that the government would not yield to the undemocratic and unconstitutional attempt by the PAD to force it out of office. Full story

Anti- and pro-gov't protestors clash in Bangkok, 8 injured 

    BANGKOK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- After several days of peaceful protest, the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) clashed with pro-government taxi drivers on Tuesday afternoon, injuring eight persons.

    According to local reports, some 20 PAD guards battled with a group of taxi drivers who support the government on the way to the Suvarnabhumi airport.

Thai army chief rules out coup rumor 

    BANGKOK, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's army chief Anupong Paojinda on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of a military coup to topple the government, explaining the coup could not solve problems.

    Anupong, who chairs the committee for monitoring political developments, said the army has prepared plans and security forcesto handle groups of anti-government protestors occupying different areas.

Thai anti-gov't leader vows to topple gov't by Wednesday 

    BANGKOK, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader Chamlong Srimuang said on Monday protestors' march to seal off different locations in Bangkok on Monday is simply a prelude, as the group planned more intense coordinated protests on Tuesday and vowed to topple the government by Wednesday.

    On Monday, key PAD leaders declared victory after their mass protests at Parliament prompted the cancellation of Monday's joint session of the House of Representatives and Senate.

Anti-gov't protestors besiege Thai parliament complex

    BANGKOK, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- A scheduled Monday Parliament session was called off following thousands of anti-government protestors led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) began the besiege of the Parliament complex and other establishments in a showdown effort to bring the "Thaksin-proxy" government down.

    Parliament President Chai Chidchob had to make a phone announcement to cancel the joint House-Senate session originally planned to start at 9:30 a.m. (0230GMT) Monday.

Anti-government protesters gesture as they blocked the main road to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport November 25, 2008. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

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