Thai protesters seize state TV, surround government buildings

AFP, August, 2008

BANGKOK (AFP) — Thousands of Thai protesters Tuesday seized a state-run TV station and surrounded government buildings in their campaign to force premier Samak Sundaravej from office and cripple his administration.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has been demonstrating since May, claim Samak is running Thailand on behalf of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and is barred from holding office.

Samak, who was elected in December and formed a coalition government in February, told the nation Monday that the protests would not force him out of office, and accused the PAD of seeking to destroy Thailand's economy.

The country's powerful army chief urged calm, insisting the military would not overthrow the government to...