|
BANGKOK, THAILAND - Thai police Friday warned anti-government protesters at Bangkok's domestic Don Mueang airport to leave immediately or face "necessary measures", witnesses said.
The order came more than 24 hours after the country's prime minister declared a state of emergency around Don Mueang and the larger Suvarnabhumi international airport.
"All protesters must... leave the rally site otherwise law enforcement officers will carry out appropriate and necessary measures to solve the situation," a police officer said through a megaphone.
"All of those who violate law will be prosecuted both in criminal and civil cases," he added.
The policeman was reading an order issued by Bangkok's Metropolitan Police commander, Lieutenant General Suchart Mueankaeo, officials said.
Thousands of tourists have been stranded since protesters stormed Suvarnabhumi late Tuesday. Don Mueang was also shut down Thursday after demonstrators surrounded it.
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat sacked the country's police chief earlier on Friday after he failed reach a peaceful settlement to the stand off or to evict the protesters.
Police said earlier the demonstrators had agreed to formal talks but the founder of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protest movement said there would be no negotiations.
The PAD, a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen, militarymen and the urban Bangkok elite, has pledged to bring down Somchai and the government elected in December.
The movement says the government is a corrupt puppet administration for exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 following months of PAD protests.
| 
