Thailand unrest leaves 2 dead and 54 injured

Political unrest in Thailand has left two people dead and 54 injured, according to a Bangkok Post report Sunday that cited the city's administration centre. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Erawan Centre today stated that "Two people were killed and 54 wounded in the street battles between Ramkhamhaeng University students and red shirts of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) from early on Saturday night to early Sunday." The centre identified the dead as Taweesak Phokaew, 21, who was shot in the right ribcage, and Wissanu Phaophu, 26, who was shot in the chest. Both were admitted to Ramkhamhaeng Hospital. The centre did not identify who fired the shots or whether the victims were supporters or opponents of the government. Of the 54 injured, five were admitted to Ramkhamhaeng, 15 to Paetpanya, four to Phetcharavej, one to Chularat 9, 12 to Ratchavithi, five to Vibha Ram, eight to Ramathibodi, two to Camillion, one to Nopparat Ratchathani, and one to Phayathai 1 hospitals. The Red Shirts - who also back Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's brother, the ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra - had gathered en masse to ward of any coup attempt against the government. The police have called for military backup to protect parliament and Ms Yingluck's office, Government House. The protesters have set today as the deadline for the ousting of the government.