BANGKOK, THAILAND: The political turmoil in Bangkok has spilled over to other parts of the kingdom as the police fired tear gas at protesters in front of Metropolitan Police headquarters and authorities closed Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai airports.

Witnesses said police fired more than 10 rounds of tear gas into a crowd of protesters gathering in front of the police station and demanding to see Major Suchart Muangkaew, who was accused of being responsible for police beating up protesters at Makkhawan Bridge on Friday morning (29 Aug).

Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) tried to block the entrance to the headquarters, forcing police to use tear gas.

Kanchana Kleepdokmai, 43, from Bangkok, said: "I heard several shots, and I thought it was gunfire, so I lay down on the ground while others ran around frantically. Then I saw gas all over the place. My eyes and face itched, and I tried to run away. Someone eventually gave me a wet cloth to cover my face with."

Dam, 55, from Bangkok, also said he heard several shots before seeing the foggy gas spread everywhere. It affected his eyes, and he thought he would vomit.

PAD supporters also banded together for shows of force in other parts of the country. Three major tourist airports in southern Thailand were closed late in the afternoon, due to protests.

Airports of Thailand acting president Serirat Prasutanond said he had cancelled all flights at Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai airports until further notice after anti-government protesters charged into Phuket Airport.

More than 1,000 PAD supporters forced their way into the passenger terminal and smashed doors and partitions, while others blocked the entrances, Thai News Agency reported.

The closure order was made jointly by Phuket's governor and the airport director. All aircraft were prohibited from landing or departing as of 5pm, in order to prevent further violence.

PAD protesters also blocked entrances to two other southern airports - in Krabi and Hat Yai - causing hundreds of passengers to miss their flights.

State-owned Thai Airways International labour union chief Chamsri Sukchotrat said all 15,000 members planned to stop work after police used force against protesters at Government House early Friday.

If the government does not stop harsh action against the protesters, the union will ask all 25,000 airline staff to stop work and join the protest, he said.

Many staff at THAI and the Port Authority of Thailand have now joined 240 train drivers and technicians in their strike. The rail strike has paralysed transport throughout the kingdom.

THAI union leaders have encouraged the national airline workers to "take leave" in support of the PAD. The movement's sympathisers in Trat, Trang and Kanchanaburi were said to be planning to travel to Bangkok to join the protest.

PAD protesters have occupied the Government House compound since Tuesday (26 Aug), demanding Samak Sundaravej resign as PM along with his government. The government tried to use force to disperse the crowd yesterday morning but was forced to retreat in the afternoon for fear the clash would escalate.

The civil court, which had previously ordered the protesters to leave Government House, issued a ruling that put the execution of that order on hold for fear of exacerbating matters.

Somchok Chanthong, comฌmunications coordinator for Lampang's Mae Moh power plant and a PAD leader in the North, said if more police were deployed to crush protesters at Makkhawan Bridge and Government House, he was ready to lead supporters in the North in shutting down the power plant.

State enterprise workers' associations - key PAD allies - were discussing measures to step up pressure on the government. These could include action by electricity and water employees.

Emails were circulated apologising for the "inconvenience" caused by the PAD. (The Nation/ ANN)