Thai capital under emergency as pro-govt leader shot and wounded in northeast

People watch and a supporter waves a flag as anti-government protesters march through Bangkok's financial district January 21, 2014.


The government issued the 60-day emergency decree late on Tuesday, handing security agencies wide powers to detain suspects, impose a curfew and limit gatherings in and around Bangkok.

Officials said it was aimed at preventing an escalation of the protests that have gripped the capital for more than two months and brought parts of the centre to a halt.

Bangkok appeared normal and people went about their business as usual. Police did not try to break up the protests, including one outside a complex where Yingluck was working.

But highlighting the risk of the political deadlock turning violent, "red shirt" leader Kwanchai Praipana, who had warned of a nationwide "fight" if the military launched a coup, was wounded in the arm and leg in a drive-by shooting at his home in the northeastern town of Udon Thani.

Police said they believed it was politically motivated. "From the way the assailants fired, they obviously didn't want him to live," his wife, Arporn Sarakham, told Reuters. Police said they had found 39 bullet cases at the house.

Kwanchai Praipana leads thousands of pro-government supporters in Udon Thani province.







Yingluck called a snap election for Feb. 2 in the hope of defusing the protests.

The Election Commission is worried it will fan the violence and says the protests have prevented some candidates from registering, meaning there will not be a quorum to open parliament. It is asking the Constitutional Court to rule on whether it can delay the vote. "If it happens on Feb. 2, there will not be enough new MPs for a new government to be formed anyway. Then Thailand would move to a period of growing limbo where the anti-Thaksin judiciary would decide on whether to void the election or not,"Chambers said.



The crisis has hurt tourism and business confidence. But the central bank, in unexpectedly positive comments, said it thought the impact of the crisis would only be short-term.


