51 injured as blasts hit Thai anti-government protests

ATTACKERS set off explosions at anti-government protest sites yesterday, wounding 51 people and raising fears of widening confrontations in Thailand's worst political crisis in decades, which has strangled its economy and shut down its main airports.

Meanwhile, thousands of government supporters gathered, in the heart of Bangkok for a rally denouncing the protesters, further inflaming tensions.

The rally was designed to show support for prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, who has appeared helpless in ending the crisis, which has stranded up to 100,000 travellers, brought the key tourism industry to a virtual standstill and affected plane schedules worldwide.

Somchai has been forced to run the government out of the northern city of Chiang Mai, because of fears that he could be arrested by the military, whose allegiances are unclear.

Yesterday's explosions hit the prime minister's compound, which protesters have held since August, an anti-government television station and a road near the main entrance to Bangkok's domestic airport, which the protesters are also occupying.

At least 51 people were injured, including four seriously, officials said.

No-one claimed responsibility, but Suriyasai Katasila, a spokesman for the protest group, blamed the government.