At least three people were killed and 75 injured in Bangkok after a series of grenade explosions in the financial district of the Thai capital, as reported by the Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. Hundreds of soldiers occupying the area since last Monday to contain the thousands of antigovernment protesters, so-called red-shirts that have become strong in the business district and seek to advance in the business area.

According to preliminary data, at least four of the injured were foreigners. The explosions occurred near a large underground station in the popular Silom Road, about 500 meters from the concentrated red shirts. At the moment there is no information on the authorship of the attacks that have occurred in a place where pro-government demonstrators were concentrated.

The red shirts demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has called an emergency meeting with security officials in the country after the explosions occured. Following the attack on the subway station Sala Daeng, the authorities have suspended the service in a section of the elevated subway line. The grenades, which police said were of the type M-79, were thrown at the subway station, which has been damaged.

The Army today called the Red Shirts to dissolve peacefully, not having to charge them. "Time is running out. Please leave the area and show yourselves to the authorities," cried the army spokesman, Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd. "The authorities are firm to disperse the protests. We do not want to risk your lives," he added.