Police seize 10,000 grenade launcher parts; PM chairs security meeting

BANGKOK, March 14 (TNA) -- Police in metro Bangkok early Sunday seized some 10,000 grenade launcher components at a suburban factory as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called an urgent security meeting with top military officers as the red-clad anti-government protesters were set to issue their ultimatum to the government to pack its bags and leave office.

The seizure of parts of M79 grenade launchers was made at a factory in Samut Prakan province neighbouring eastern Bangkok.

It came after police early Saturday searched another factory producing automobile spare parts in Wang Noi district of Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, and seized about 100 pieces of steel tube which could be used as substitute M79 grenade launchers.

Worries over the current unrest, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presided over a meeting of the Peacekeeping Operations Centre held at the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who directs the Centre, Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, commanders of the three armed forces and senior security agency officers.

Security around the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters was tightened after Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the anti-government movement the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), threatened Saturday that protesters would spread over a 20-kilometre radius of their current main site on Ratchadamnoen Avenue if their demand for the government to leave the office was not met.

The UDD leaders were expected to officially announce the movement’s demands by noon Sunday. (TNA)