Thai protesters disrupt Bangkok airport

BANGKOK, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Anti-government protesters disrupted Bangkok's international airport Tuesday and clashed with Thai police elsewhere in the city, officials said.

Protesters seeking to block the return of Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from an international summit in Peru occupied the passenger terminal of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and blocked surrounding roads, partially closing the facility, airport officials told CNN.

The protesters carried golf clubs and long wooden sticks, fighting with cab drivers while police -- who have largely avoided confrontations with protesters -- attempted to restore order, the broadcaster said.

Video footage broadcast on Thai television showed protesters beating government supporters with metal rods as they escalated violence in a final push to oust the Wongsawat government, which they accuse of being a puppet of deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, The New York Times said.

The newspaper said there were growing signs, however, that the protests are losing the support of the Thai public, citing a planned public utility strike that failed to materialize.