7 killed in Bangkok protests

BANGKOK, May 14 (UPI) -- Thai security forces and Red Shirt protesters waged battle in Bangkok Friday with the confrontations leaving at least seven dead and 100 hurt, officials said.

The Erawan emergency unit said nine of the wounded in the city's main business district clashes were in critical condition, the Bangkok Post reported. The victims were being treated at 11 hospitals throughout the city, the newspaper said.

The BBC reported the security forces had pressed forward to reclaim the business district where the Red Shirts have have been camped since March, demanding the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and calling for new elections.

Tensions in the area worsened Thursday when a former general, who now supports the protesters, was critically wounded after being shot by an unidentified gunman.

The BBC report said the protesters set fire to a police bus and the troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets. The Thai News agency reported security forces also fired warning shots.

Capital authorities cut off water and electricity to the areas where protesters were camped.

Some embassies also remained closed.

On Thursday, Abhisit's government revoked its offer to dissolve Parliament after Sept. 15 and call elections Nov. 14 because the protesters showed no signs of ending their rally.

The former military officer shot in the head, Khattiya Sawasdipol, also known as Seh Daeng, remained hospitalized in critical condition, reports said. TNA reported the government and the army have denied accusations they were behind his shooting.

Seh Daeng reportedly was wounded while being interviewed by a reporter with the International Herald Tribune, CNN reported.

Prior to Friday's deadly confrontations, at least 30 people had been killed and about 1,000 injured in clashes and attacks since the protests began.

The red shirts are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a 2006 coup.