Britons Urged To Avoid Thailand

UK travellers have been warned against all but "non-essential visits" to the whole of Thailand in the midst of ongoing political demonstrations in the Thai capital, (pictured).

This warning by The Department of Foreign Affairs follows demonstrations in the Thai capital that "have been marked by violence, death, and injury."

Foreign Office advice issued on Thursday warned Britons against travel to Bangkok, but this has been extended to cover the rest of the country.

This advice reflects the increasing tension in Thailand and the concern that violent incidents of an unpredictable nature are occurring in many parts of the country.

"The security situation is very volatile with significant potential for further civil unrest, violent clashes, and attacks," the department warned.

The country has seen growing tensions between red shirt protesters demanding the dissolution of parliament and security forces, often ending in violent skirmishes.

Britons already in Thailand are advised to stay indoors and monitor the media and they have been urged to regularly check Foreign Office travel advice.

Britons already in the country have also been advised to consider whether it is essential to travel within Bangkok, the country's capital, and to take alternative routes where possible.

During recent tensions Thai government troops have fired into the air to try stop another rally by red shirt protesters.

The protesters challenged the military to stop them as they headed for a demonstration in a Bangkok suburb. They were met by about 450 soldiers and police officers at a checkpoint outside an air force base on a main road in Bangkok's northern suburbs.

Some of the troops fired into the air with machine guns and shotguns, according to Reuters.

The shots raised concerns of more clashes after the government warned its patience was running out.

Protesters sent hundreds of supporters in pickup trucks and on motorbikes to drum up support at an outdoor market north of the capital. The government has repeatedly said it will not tolerate protests beyond the commercial shopping zone where the red shirts have been entrenched for weeks.

"We are going to send (protesters) out of the rally site," a red shirt leader, Nattawut Saikua, said. "If the military thinks it is necessary to use force to block us, it's all right." He added: "We are not afraid."

The current unrest is now in its eighth week and more than 26 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 wounded in clashes.

(LB/BMcC)