The Frame
A photo blog of world events by Sacbee.com Assistant Director of Multimedia Tim Reese.
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May 19, 2010
Bangkok burns
BANGKOK (AP) -- Downtown Bangkok became a flaming battleground Wednesday as an army assault forced anti-government protest leaders to surrender, enraging followers who shot grenades and set fire to landmark buildings, cloaking the skyline in black smoke. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva tried Wednesday night to reassure the country that the government would restore calm but fires spread through the capital. His government declared a nighttime curfew, and he said in his televised address troops had been given the go-ahead to shoot at suspected arsonists. The troops had moved earlier in the day against thousands of so-called Red Shirt protesters, mostly rural poor, who had camped behind barricades in the capital's premier shopping and residential district for weeks, demanding Abhisit call immediate elections. The army used live ammunition to disperse them, drawing fire from militant Red Shirts. Officials confirmed five protesters and an Italian news photographer were confirmed killed and about 60 wounded.(25 images)

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A Red Shirt protester carries his belonging inside the devastated red shirt camp as a fire burns at the Central World Shopping Mall on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. At least 5 people are reported to have died as government forces attempted to overrun barricades raised in and around the city centre by anti-government protestors. Red-shirt leaders have now surrendered, ending their blockade following a sixth day of violence, leaving the army in control and a night time curfew to be imposed. Getty Images / Athit Perawongmetha


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Downtown Bangkok burns after redshirts set fire to many building showing their anger against the government May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Paula Bronstein



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A fire started by red shirt anti-government protesters blazes through the Central World Shopping Mall after Thai military forces dispersed the protesters from their encampment on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Athit Perawongmetha



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A Thai anti-government red shirt protester throws a propane tank onto a fire set at the CentralWorld mall on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Getty Images



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Thai anti-government red shirt protesters use a table to shield themselves as they drag a wounded protester to medics after he was shot by Thai military forces on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images



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Thai soldiers get ready to attack during the early morning seige on the red shirt camp May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Paula Bronstein



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Thai soldiers start the early morning attack on the red shirt camp May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Paula Bronstein



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Thai soldiers start the early morning attack on the red shirt camp May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Paula Bronstein



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Thai soldiers fire towards anti-government protesters near a barricade on Wednesday May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. AP / Vincent Yu



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A monk watches as a red shirt anti-government protester surrenders to the military inside the red shirt camp on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Paula Bronstein



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Red shirt anti-government protesters surrender to the military inside the red shirt camp on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Paula Bronstein



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Red Shirt anti-government protestors are detained by soldiers inside their camp in Bangkok on May 19, 2010. Thai security forces backed by armoured vehicles advanced on the 'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters' camp in Bangkok in what a senator said would be a 'decisive' crackdown. AFP / Getty Images / Manan Vatsyayana



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A Thai anti-government red shirt protester is dragged to safety after being shot by Thai military forces on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images



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Thai soldiers walk past the body of a protesters killed during a crackdown on the Red Shirt anti-government protesters' camp in Bangkok on May 19, 2010. AFP / Getty Images / Pedro Ugarte



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A soldier injured by an M-79 grenade launcher is evacuated by an anti-personnel carrier on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. AP / Wong Maye-E



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A Thai cameraman shouts for help as he along with others carry an injured soldier after a grenade attack at Lumpini park, in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. AP / Manish Swarup



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Thai anti-government red shirt protesters weep as their leaders tell them that their protest must end as Thai military forces advance on their position on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images



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A Thai soldier checks the belongings of anti-government protesters at their main site on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images



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Empty chairs are seen inside the devastated red shirt camp on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Athit Perawongmetha



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An anti-government protestor piles tires on a fire at a shopping center Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/ Wally Santana) AP / Wally Santana



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A Thai "Red Shirt" anti-government protester runs beside a shop set ablaze a few hours before the leaders of the movement announced their surrender inside the protesters's camp in downtown Bangkok on May 19, 2010. AFP / Getty Images / Bay Ismoyo



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Thai firefighters work to control a fire on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok Thailand. AP / Wason Wanichakorn



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Firemen douse a fire at a barricade of Lumpini Park put up by anti-government protesters in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 19, 2010.AP / Manish Swarup



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Tourists take photos of a fire burn at the Central World Shopping Mall on May 19, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images / Athit Perawongmetha



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A hotel employee looks out from a window as smoke rises from burning fires in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, following the surrender of anti-government leaders to the police on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. AP / Vincent Yu



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