Thai army warns protesters face live fire
Posted: 20 April 2010 1356 hrs

BANGKOK : Thailand's army warned Tuesday that anti-government protesters would face tear gas and live weapons fire in "decisive action" to counter any fresh clashes with security forces.

Ten days after 25 people were killed and 800 injured in a failed attempt to dislodge the red-shirted demonstrators, the army toughened its stance on the movement which has mounted four weeks of disruptive street rallies.

"Security forces will begin by firing tear gas and if they cannot stop protesters then soldiers will start taking decisive action with live bullets," Army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said.

Sunsern targeted shadowy black-clad provocateurs accused of kicking off the April 10 violence who the army refers to as "terrorists".

"We have received intelligence from the field that terrorists are armed with hand grenades, molotov cocktails and acid," Sunsern said after a meeting chaired by army chief Anupong Paojinda.

Thailand's government has said it is intent on clearing out the "Red Shirt" protesters who are camped in Bangkok's main shopping district but has given no timeframe for the crackdown.