国际英语新闻：Dispersion operation begins as armored vehicles crush red-shirts' blockade at Lumpini

BANGKOK, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The armored vehicles broke through the blockade of the red-shirt at Lumpini Park area in downtown Bangkok at about 8 a.m. Wednesday as the troops' dispersion operation kicked off.

At least 1 red-shirt was shot in the clashes in Lumpini Park, south of the sealed-off protest zone, as the troops are trying to moving forward.

Red-shirts fought back in some areas as gunshots were firing at the troops on Road Rama 4 from the protest zone.

At the center of the protest zone, Ratchaprasong intersection, the "red-shirts" took shelter in the nearby buildings along the street and their leaders called on people to keep calm.

The authorities earlier reported two people were injured in the clashes and had been sent to the General Police Hospital. One Thai journalist in the field was reported injured.

Thick smoke came from Chulalongkorn Hospital and gunshots were heard from Sala Daeng, not far from Lumpini.

Secretary-general to the Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu, told local media peace talks between the Thai government and the anti- government group, which was planned to be mediated by Senate Speaker Prasobsuk Boondej, has been completely ruled out.

He also urged the red-shirted protesters to surrender. "The protest must end immediately and leaders must surrender and stop the violence," he told local media.