BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat last night declared a state of emergency at two of the country's airports seized by protesters, setting the stage for a possible bloody confrontation.

'It is wrong for protesters to take the entire Thai nation hostage,' he said in a televised address to the country last night after a Cabinet meeting.

He said the government had no intention of hurting anyone but it had to act to clear the facilities of protesters.

Mr Somchai said police and some military units would try to end the blockades by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) at the Suvarnabhumi international and Don Muang domestic airports.

Navy personnel would help police in clearing Suvarnabhumi, while the air force will assist at Don Muang.

He did not say when the authorities would act but 30 medical teams were reportedly on standby in case of a bloody crackdown.

'We can't let the situation go on like this,' Culture Minister Worawat Ua-apinyakul said, adding that the emergency order would empower the police to break up illegal public gatherings of more than five people, with the military providing backup.

Despite an appeal by army chief Anupong Paochinda and a court order, thousands of PAD protesters have refused to budge.

'We will not leave. We will use human shields against the police if they try to disperse us,' one of its leaders, Mr Suriyasai Katasila, said last night.

The protesters, who have waged a six-month campaign to oust Mr Somchai, stormed Suvarnabhumi airport outside Bangkok on Tuesday night and occupied Don Muang airport yesterday.

Their action has stranded thousands of tourists and added to the growing anarchy in the country.

Mr Somchai's announcement came amid rising tensions as rumours of a coup swirled around the capital.

Analysts say the government's decision to move against the protesters is expected to bring to a head the growing power struggle between Mr Somchai and General Anupong.

'If the army doesn't carry out the order, then the PM will have to sack the army chief. And if Gen Anupong doesn't want to be sacked, he will then have to stage a coup,' said Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak, who teaches political science at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

The military denied speculation that it was about to topple Mr Somchai, who has rejected a call by the powerful army chief to hold fresh elections, but the government yesterday still urged soldiers to remain in their barracks.

Analysts say another source of worry is the cloud of uncertainty that hovers over the intentions of tens of thousands of pro-government backers grouped under the United Front for Democracy Against the Dictatorship (UDD).

The UDD supporters, who are members of Mr Somchai's mainly rural People Power Party, have exercised great restraint so far in the face of the PAD's aggressive tactics to oust the government. These have included their occupation of Parliament House and the Prime Minister's Office.

A senior UDD leader, Mr Veera Musikhapong, was quoted by the local media yesterday as saying that the group was planning to summon its red-clad supporters to force the PAD out of the two airports, if no government action was taken.

Prof Thitinan said that the prospect of civil strife loomed large if the country's police and army did not move quickly to restore order.

'There is a lot of pent-up anger and frustration among UDD members. When that is demonstrated on the streets, the consequences could be very nasty and severe,' he warned.

Mr Somchai's decision to declare a state of emergency came a day after Gen Anupong called on the government to resign and hold fresh elections as a way out of the country's protracted political crisis.

But that proposal was swiftly rebuffed by the Premier, who said in a televised broadcast that his government was legitimately elected and that it would continue with its 'job to protect democracy for the people of Thailand'.

Government officials said that Mr Somchai's administration was left with no choice but to declare the state of emergency.

This was because the months-long anti-government protests had paralysed government decision- making, undermined foreign investor sentiment and delivered a body blow to the country's important tourism sector.

'We see the takeover of Suvarnabhumi as crossing the line,' said a close associate of Mr Somchai.

'The PM is a patient man. If the army chief fails to do his job, then the prime minister must do his,' said the associate, who spoke to The Straits Times on condition of anonymity.

ljlopez@sph.com.sg

Additional information from Reuters, The Nation/Asia News Network

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