Protesters storm TV centre in Thailand clashes

It was the first use of force by the government in month-long protests aimed at ousting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and forcing new elections.

At least 10 protesters and three security personnel were injured in the brief confrontation in a northern suburb of the capital Bangkok, The Nation newspaper said on its website.

Hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails, the Red Shirt protesters breached the barbed-wire perimeter of Thaicom Public within minutes, though they were not immediately able to enter the main building.

As they moved into the compound, security forces threw tear gas canisters and fired water cannons but then quickly retreated into the main building as thousands of protesters swarmed around it.

Red Shirt leaders then attempted to negotiate with police to get the People Channel, or PTV, back on the air, while many protesters headed back to the centre of Bangkok after hearing rumours that the military would try to clear demonstrators out of one of their encampments in the capital.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn indicated that PTV would remain shut down, saying, "We will restore their signals only when they report the truth again."

After the clash, some security forces were seen throwing down their shields and riot gear and shaking hands with the protesters. In recent weeks, police have frequently shown sympathy with the protesters and analysts say the security forces, especially the police, are split in their loyalties, making it difficult for the government to enforce its orders.

The Red Shirts offered water to soldiers and police, and showed reporters a small cache of weapons, including M-16 assault rifles and shotguns, which they had seized from soldiers.

One of the protesters, Thep Jitra, said: "We've got the upper hand. But we no longer can claim we are peaceful.

"I suppose (those who broke into the compound) have been emotionally repressed for so long. I'm sure this is such a release for them. This is pay-back time."

The escalating demonstrations are part of a long-running battle between the mostly poor and rural supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and the ruling elite they say orchestrated the 2006 military coup that removed him from power. They see the Oxford-educated Abhisit as a symbol of the elite and claim he took office illegitimately in December 2008 with the help of military pressure on parliament.

Leaders of the Red Shirt movement initially said they would march to undisclosed locations across Bangkok yesterday in their biggest rally yet, but switched plans after the closure of their satellite TV station.

Protest leader Nattawut Saikua told followers: "We're all moving in one direction. We're going to bring back our People Channel," he said.

Columns of protesters, riding motorcycles and pick-up trucks, blared horns and waved red flags as they moved out of their two main encampments and headed 28 miles north to the offices of Thaicom in the suburb of Pathum Thani.

Thaicom, which relayed the PTV signal via satellite, was founded by Mr Thaksin although he no longer owns it.

PTV was back on air yesterday afternoon, but a government spokesman said the signal remained under its control. "We are still controlling any news reporting that distorts facts," he said.

Speaking last night in a brief TV address, Mr Abhisit accused the protesters of showing arrogance by taking the action, but did not explain why the government bowed to their demand that the TV channel be restored.

"Today we might be disappointed but the situation is not over yet," he said, in a clear reference to criticism that he has been too soft in trying to quell the protests. "We will stand firm in leading the nation back to normalcy."