Bangkok airport partially shut down amid protests

Posted: 10:17 AM ET

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) - Thousands of anti-government protesters
partially shut down Bangkok International airport Tuesday.

All departing flights were canceled after the protesters broke into the
passenger terminal, Serirat Prasutanond, the director of Suvarnabhumi airport,
said. There are also demonstrators sitting on the road in front of the
terminal, video of the protest showed.

They are protesting against the return of Thai Prime Minister Somchai
Wongsawat from an international summit in Peru.

Protesters carrying golf clubs and long wooden sticks clashed with
airport taxi drivers, with each side throwing things at the other. There are
some police on the scene with plastic riot shields, but they are not heavily
armed.

Airport officials said incoming flights would be allowed to land because
there is not enough time to divert planes to other airports.

The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy has been protesting
since May, accusing the government of being a front for ousted former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Pro- and anti-government protesters exchanged gunfire earlier in the day,
a Thai police official said.

Eight people were injured, said the police officer, who asked not to be
named. No deaths were reported. The injuries were minor, and the wounded were
sent to Sau Paulo General Hospital.

The clash happened when the anti-government People's Alliance for
Democracy was mobilizing supporters near Don Muang Airport, which the
government is using as its temporary office. It is not the same airport that
canceled flights.

The PAD ran into a pro-government group, the two sides exchanged abusive
words, and the pro-government group threw rocks into the PAD crowd, the police
official said, prompting the brief exchange of gunfire.

The PAD has been leading protests against the government since May.
Protesters surrounded the parliament building on Monday, forcing lawmakers to
postpone their session.

Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006, returned to the country
after the People Power Party won elections in December 2007, and left again in
August this year, shortly before he was to face trial on corruption charges.

The protesters want Thaksin to return and stand trial.
–CNN's Kocha Olarn contributed to this report.