国际英语新闻：Thai PM says mission to restore order nearly completed

BANGKOK, April 13 (Xinhua) -- After 24 hours of chaos and violence around the Thai capital, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva concluded at the end of the day that his mission to bring back peace and order to the country has nearly completed.

    Abhisit delivered a late-night speech on national television on Monday that the military was just carrying out their duties to restore law and order, and blamed the red-skirted protesters for inciting violence, after soldiers moved to disperse anti-government protesters around Bangkok during the day.

Thai army soldiers mass for orders near the Government House in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, April 13, 2009. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday a military campaign to shut down anti-government protests that have raged in the capital was "nearly complete".

Abhisit, flanked with top members of the cabinet, military and police, said that by now the authorities have taken back control of all points earlier held by red-shirt protesters around Bangkok, except the only place around the Government House, the main rally venue for the protesters.

    He confirmed that there was two dead cases from clashes at the Nang Lerng Market on Monday evening, where the government accused the red-shirt protesters of intruding and clashing with local residents.

Thai army soliders stand guard on a street near the Government House in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 13, 2009

Violent clashes and sporadic bloodshed were reported in many spots around Bangkok, as the military moved before dawn on Monday to disperse anti-government protesters led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) at the Din Daeng intersection, one of the red-shirt rally sites, which the military finally took back control of it.

    Nearly 100 people were reportedly injured in the clashes.

    The authorities claimed the violence was incited by protesters who burnt buses, seized a LPG tanker, intruded local markets, broke into banks and threw motolovs at soldiers as well as civilians throughout the day.

A burning bus is seen on a street near the Government House in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on April 13, 2009.

Abhisit dismissed reports about the military causing large bloodshed in Bangkok, and said that it was the red-shirt protesters who incited the clashes.

    Abhisit thanked the security forces for their work and for showing "respect for human rights." The work could have caused lot of stress for them, he noted, but "it's a pride to serve His Majesty the King."

    He accused "certain people" of give false information to foreign media, which is believed to be referring to remarks by exiled former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whom the red-shirt protesters support, that "many protesters were killed" in an interview with U.S. media cnn.

A man kneels down to stop Thai soldiers from marching towards the Government House in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, April 13, 2009

He vowed to continue his work until he achieves his mission to bring back peace and order back to country, and urged cooperation from all sides of people, including information to authorities about suspicious activities by protesters.

    The Thai prime minister appealed to protesters who have genuine political ideology, "I have listened to your demands, but please help the government by returning to your homes now, which the government will help facilitate with."

    After imposing the state of emergency over Bangkok and surrounding areas on Sunday afternoon, Abhisit had promised to restore order in the country in three or four days during the Songkran Festival, the water-splashing holiday which kicked off on Monday to coincide with the start of a urban war fight between protesters and the authorities.