Police fire tear gas against crowd

Police fired tear gas Tuesday at several thousand demonstrators attempting to block access by lawmakers to Parliament, heating up a political crisis that has gripped the country for six weeks. Forty-six people were injured, including two seriously, said Petpong Kumtonkitjakarn of the Erawan Medical Center, a disaster coordination center. "One of them lost his leg, another was hit with shrapnel in the chest," he said. Reporters at the scene heard sounds of gunfire but senior police officials said that only tear gas was being used against the crowd. "I don't think there are many injuries," police Maj. Gen. Viboon Bangthamai said. The morning clashes came just hours before Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who was sworn in Sept. 25, was scheduled to deliver his government's policy statement to lawmakers. Anti-government... [read full story]