Three blasts hit Thailand's capital Saturday, bringing the number of wounded to eight including five soldiers, after anti-government demonstrators mounted a major rally and Thai troops retreated from security posts, bowing to demands from 80,000 jubilant red-shirted protesters who mounted a rally to demand fresh elections. One of the explosions hit the government-run National Broadcasting Service of Thailand television station at 9.30 pm (1430 GMT), injuring three soldiers and a civilian guard, police and medical authorities said. Two soldiers and two civilians were injured earlier when a grenade was thrown at army-run television station Channel 5. The incident came shortly after some 80,000 protesters mounted a peaceful street rally. The channel showed footage of the soldiers with bleeding leg wounds being lifted into a pick-up truck and taken to hospital. One of the injured civilians needed surgery but the other was released from hospital after treatment. “An M-79 grenade was launched from the road in front of Channel 5 but the bomb hit a net above the fence before falling and exploding on the pavement,” said police operations command spokesman Prawut Thavorsiri. Earlier, a small blast hit Thailand's customs department compound hours ahead of a street protest staged by tens of thousands of supporters of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra. It shattered windows and damaged a van parked nearby, but caused no injuries. “The bomb went off at 3:45 am, we still don't know what type of bomb it was, we will have to wait for a forensic examination,” said a district police officer. In the face of the huge crowds of flag-waving protesters, who arrived in cars, on motorbikes and on foot, the military agreed to withdraw from the positions in Bangkok's old quarter where the Reds' main rally base is situated. Buoyed by their success, the Reds vowed to take their movement to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva by rallying Sunday at the military barracks where he has been holed up. “We hope we will meet with Abhisit,” said protest leader Veera Musikapong. “I hope tomorrow will be the end of this political rally.”
