Shoot-out at Thai protest site injures 5

A shoot-out early Saturday near the main rally site in Bangkok of an anti-government demonstration left at least five wounded, Thai television reported. Police said the shootout occurred at about 2:30 am (1730 GMT Friday) near the Democracy Monument, which has been the main rally site of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) since late November, Thai Channel 9 reported. At least five PDRC security guards were wounded, it said. The PDRC is preparing a mass protest in Bangkok starting Monday aimed at paralyzing the capital and forcing caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her cabinet to resign before a general election scheduled on February 2. The protest has raised fears of street violence. On Friday, a shootout broke out between anti-government protesters and government supporters in Prathum Thani province, neighbouring Bangkok, injuring at least four people.