Bangkok (AsiaNews) - Two policemen were killed and 12 people were wounded in a grenade and gunfire attack near the site of the "red shirts" protests even as the government tries to negotiate a "road map" to close the political crisis and demonstrations that have blocked the country's economy.
Three grenades exploded near a roadblock in front of Lumpini Park, which forms a boundary with the fortified area of anti-government barricades. Five policemen and four soldiers were wounded, one soldier, 35, died in hospital while operated on.
The night before a policeman was killed and four people - two policemen and two civilians - were wounded in the business district of Silom, under tight control to keep the protests at bay. Police said a man on a motorcycle fired at a patrol. It is unclear who is responsible for this violence.
The leaders of the "red shirts" have denied responsibility and asked the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to withdraw all security forces from the district of Silom, according to the proposed reconciliation plan. The road map is still meeting with the resistance of both the "red shirts", and of "yellow shirts".
In the last two months of protests and clashes, 29 people were killed and 1000 wounded.