A blast rocked a mass rally site at Sanam Luang, Royal Palace,
in Bankok at 8:00 PM (13:00 GMT) Sunday as thousands of protesters
gathered to demand the caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
to step down.
The explosion went off on an iTV transmission car parked at the
center part of the square, sparking flames in surrounding areas,
reported The Nation television.
A broadcasting stage nearby has been on fire and black smoke was
seen gutting out of the inflamed car.
Police has arrived to cordon off the explosion site and evacuate
the mass. The flames have been put under control and no casualties
have been reported so far, said the Thairath website.
The rally, which has started from Sunday noon involving tens of
thousands of protesters, is still going on.
The anti-government demonstration, the third one in a month, is
apparent the largest despite the government's announcement to
dissolve parliament and hold snap elections on April 2 to defuse
escalating political tension.
(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2006)
