Grenades hit Thai barracks amid protests

BANGKOK: Four Thai soldiers were wounded Sunday when grenades were fired into the army barracks which has served as the government's base during two weeks of street demonstrations, police said.

The explosions were the latest in a series of more than a dozen to hit since the protests began on March 14, including attacks on two television stations and the customs department on Saturday which left eight others wounded.

Major General Prawut Thavornsiri, from the police task force set up to monitor the protests, said two grenades were lobbed near the gate of the infantry barracks on Bangkok's northern outskirts.

"The blasts injured four soldiers," Prawut told AFP, adding that the incident took place in the early hours of the morning.

Red-shirted campaigners loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra are pushing for fresh elections to displace a government which came to power with army backing in 2008.

They have threatened to march on the barracks Sunday to demand talks with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has been holed up there during the rolling demonstrations.

On Saturday they mounted a rally drawing 80,000 people which forced the military to retreat from several security posts near the main rally base in Bangkok's old quarter.