Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Former Thai PM warns that coup would be bloody
AP - 2 hours 38 minutes ago
BANGKOK, Thailand - Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has warned the army to stay out of politics, predicting bloodshed if they stage a coup.
Thaksin spoke in a videotaped interview with blogger Thomas Crampton as a four-day shutdown of Bangkok's airports by protesters has pitched his homeland deeper into a political and economic crisis.
The billionaire businessman turned populist politician was deposed by the military for alleged corruption and abuse of power in a September 2006 coup and now lives in exile.
"If the coup were to happen, there's going to be bloodshed. It's not going to be an easy coup like in the past because the people are in hardship since dictatorship came to Thailand," Thaksin said.
Thaksin, who retains a loyal following among Thailand's poor, rural majority, urged his supporters to "protect democracy."
The date and time of the interview was not known, though it was posted on Crampton's blog on Friday.
The Thai government has declared a limited state of emergency around its two besieged airports, but so far held back from using force to remove the protesters.
Army chief Anupong Paochinda has said fresh elections should be called to resolve the deadlock, a call rejected by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law. The protesters seek to oust Somchai because they charge he is Thaksin's puppet.
There have been calls by some of the press and public for the army to intervene as a way of resolving the situation. Government supporters warn that they would resist a military takeover with force.
When the tanks rolled in 2006's bloodless putsch, the reaction in Bangkok was festive. The capital's residents welcomed the action after months of street protests against Thaksin. Thaksin's allies returned to power after elections in December last year.
Crampton, a freelance journalist, used to work for the International Herald Tribune and bases himself in Hong Kong, a city frequently visited by Thaksin.
----------
On the Net:
Thaksin interview:
http://www.thomascrampton.com/thailand/exclusive-video-thaksin-on-thai-crisis
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (1 vote)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Indian forces fight last gunmen in hotelAP - 25 minutes ago
Thai protesters defiant as police boost presenceAP - 25 minutes ago
Mumbai survivor: 'There were bodies everywhere'AP - 2 hours 18 minutes ago
Former Thai PM warns that coup would be bloodyAP - 2 hours 42 minutes ago
China forced to act over Sarkozy-Dalai Lama meeting: spokesmanAFP - 2 hours 53 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
US clears Bank of America deal for Merrill Lynch
US president's mother 'doing very well' in hospital: Laura Bush
Love handles increase death risk: study
Michael Jackson strikes 'amicable' deal with Arab sheikh
Obama vows 'help is on the way' for the economy
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular