国际英语新闻：Services of hospital in Bangkok ceased amid anti-gov't rally: doctor

BANGKOK, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Public services of the state-owned Chulalongkorn Hospital in central Bangkok has been ceased, although the anti-government protestors removed barricades blocking entrance of the hospital, Doctor Therawat Hemajutha said Saturday.

It is "useless" thought the entrance has been cleared, Thai News Agency quoted Doctor Therawat as saying.

Also, the evacuation of the hospital's patients is for safety, Doctor Therawat explained.

"The evacuation of the patients is not due to a political factor," Doctor Therawat said.

If violence or blast occurs (inside the hospital), medical personnel can escape, but the patients can not do so, Doctor Therawat said.

By Friday evening, the hospital announced that the hospital evacuated some 124 patients to 27 nearby hospitals for safety.

The evacuation occurred on Thursday night after a group of the protestors, led by major leader Payap Panket, stormed into the hospital to search for troops, but found none.

The anti-government rally has been held from March 12 and the protestors are now gathering at the Rathchaprasong Intersection -- their main rally site.

They have demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to " immediately" dissolve the lower House of parliament and hold a new general election.

They are viewing that, apart from the House dissolution, there is no other solution to the country's ongoing political conflict.