4:33am UK, Tuesday September 02, 2008

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok after one person was killed and 34 hurt during clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters.

Anti-Government protesters clashed with police

The army has been given control of public order after battles broke out following a week of occupation of the prime minister’s official compound by demonstrators.

Around 400 soldiers armed with batons and shields were sent to back up police struggling to contain the skirmishes.

After the clashes, the street was strewn with rocks and broken glass, and several pools of blood were left on the pavement.

The recent violence is the worst seen since the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) launched a street campaign against the prime minister in May.

The deployment of troops will come as welcome relief to the overstretched police, but raises fears that the army may seize power less than two years after the military kicked out then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

All public gatherings in the capital have been banned and restrictions imposed on media reports that “undermined public security”.

“There is an urgent need to solve all these problems quickly. Therefore the prime minister declares a state of emergency in Bangkok from now on,” an announcement read.

However, leaders of the protest movement inside the compound said they would not budge.

They are encamped behind makeshift barricades of barbed wire and car tyres.

“There are not enough jails to put us all into,” PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang told a gathering of thousands of supporters.

He called for more people to join in the protest against Mr Samak, whom the PAD accuses of being an illegitimate proxy for Mr Thaksin – who has recently sold his controlling stake in Manchester City Football Club.

Mr Thaksin and his wife jumped bail and fled to the UK last month to avoid corruption charges.