THAI ARMY MOVES TO QUELL PROTESTS

Thai troops charge at red-shirted protesters in Bangkok

The Thai army has fought running battles with protesters in the capital Bangkok in a bid to end days of mass demonstrations and political chaos.

A BBC correspondent saw soldiers fire hundreds of live rounds, some into the crowds of protesters, in a bid to clear them from a major road junction.

The protesters responded by hurling petrol bombs and driving buses they had commandeered at the lines of troops.

Dozens are reported to have been wounded in the clashes.

The red-shirted protesters - thousands of whom are gathered outside the parliament buildings - have vowed to stay until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resigns.

Mr Abhisit, who declared a state of emergency on Sunday, has appealed for calm and says his government is trying to ease the tense situation.

Monday's clashes broke out after the military moved in the early hours to clear around 200 protesters at Din Daeng intersection, around 2km (1.2 miles) from parliament buildings.

Tyres were set alight by the protesters to stop advancing troops

There were hours of skirmishes as demonstrators threw petrol bombs and rocks at lines of troops, who were carrying riot shields and automatic weapons, reports the BBC's Alastair Leithead from the scene.

The soldiers did not break their line until a bus commandeered by the protesters was set alight.

They then moved in with water cannon to put out the flames, and then opened fire with live rounds.

Many soldiers shot above the protesters' heads, but some were clearly firing into the crowd, our correspondent said.

The government will keep working to return peace and order to the country Abhisit Vejjajiva Thai prime minister In pictures: Thai crackdown

A second round of firing came after a bus was driven by a protester towards the military, before crashing into a motorway barrier.

Our correspondent said he saw one person with a head injury.

Earlier, a hospital doctor in the city told the BBC News website that 74 people had been brought in, most of them suffering abrasions but some with gunshot wounds.

Monday is the start of a three-day holiday for the Thai New Year and many people have already left the capital for the provinces.

One of the protest leaders accused the army of using excessive force against the protesters.

"We will stand firm indefinitely," Jakrapob Penkair told BBC World Service.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva appealed for calm in a televised appeal.

Lines of Thai soldiers have been moving through the capital

"The government has a tight plan to control the areas which are in trouble and try to ease the situation as soon as possible," he said.

"If anyone still wants to stage a protest, they are allowed to do that in a peaceful way and without any weapons which is allowed by the constitution".

The protests led to the cancellation of a major gathering of Asian leaders in Pattaya at the weekend - causing huge embarrassment to the prime minister, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says.

He was filmed on Sunday with the commanders of the army, navy, air force and deputy police chief, saying "the government and security agencies are still unified".

The protesters are supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister who was deposed in a coup in 2006 and now lives in self-imposed exile abroad.

He addressed his supporters by telephone on Sunday, calling for a "revolution".

"Now that they have tanks on the streets, it is time for the people to come out in revolution," he said in a message shown on giant screens near the prime minister's office.

"And when it is necessary, I will come back to the country."

Under the state of emergency, gatherings of more than five people can be banned, media reports can be censored and the army can be deployed to help police maintain order.

Last year, the government imposed a state of emergency on several occasions but the army refused to enact the measures.

That crisis eventually led to Mr Abhisit's government taking over from allies of Mr Thaksin.

The problem for Mr Abhisit is that he came to power in December on the back of protests that were just as illegal, our correspondent says.

He may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him.

BBC NEWS REPORT.