By Leslie Lopez, South-east Asia Correspondent

BANGKOK: The months-long street campaign to unseat the Thai government turned desperate and violent yesterday, after anti-government protesters besieged the country's main airports and clashed with the rival camp.

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport was closed indefinitely last night, after thousands of anti-government protesters stormed the terminal, affecting flight operations as startled tourists looked on.

'For the safety of passengers, we have to stop flights out of the airport temporarily, until the situation returns to normal,' airport manager Serirat Prasutanon said in a statement, adding that incoming flights were still operating.

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