(Audio of news report) Sporadic explosions have been heard in central Bangkok after a night of violence that saw the death toll in clashes between Thai security forces and anti-government red shirt protesters rise to 16.
Al Jazeera English Death toll rises in Bangkok clashes http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/05/201051534522689907.html
The Thai capital has now been rocked by two days of running street battles as security forces battled to evict thousands of so-called red shirts from their protest camp in the centre of the city.
Early on Saturday, clashes were reported in the centre of the city as troops pushed ahead with efforts to set up a perimeter around the sprawling camp, in Bangkok's normally bustling Rajprasong business district.
Gunfire and explosions were heard throughout the night and reports said several grenades had exploded close to the red shirt camp.
With tensions rising, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has called on all sides to avoid violence and resolve the crisis through talks.
"He strongly encourages them to urgently return to dialogue in order to de-escalate the situation and resolve matters peacefully," Ban's spokesman said in a written statement.
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