BANGKOK -- Thai premier Somchai Wongsawat replaced the national police chief Friday amid a mounting standoff with protesters occupying Bangkok's airports, an official order from the prime minister said.
The statement did not give a reason for the dismissal of Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, saying only that the country's top policeman had been "ordered...to move to the prime minister's office."
"The prime minister appointed Police Major General Prateep Tanprasert, the inspector general, as acting national police chief," it said, following days of demonstrations that have blocked all air traffic to the capital.
Meanwhile, protesters occupying Bangkok's main international airport have agreed to hold formal talks on Saturday with Thai authorities following initial contacts, a police commander said.
Hundreds of police had also moved into position outside Suvarnabhumi international airport but it was "not for a crackdown", regional police deputy commander Major General Piya Sorntrakoon told Agence France-Presse Friday.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat declared a state of emergency around Suvarnabhumi and the domestic Don Mueang airport late Thursday, saying that the anti-government protesters were holding the country hostage.
"The PAD [People's Alliance for Democracy protest movement] agreed to talks on Saturday," said Piya, after officials said earlier that initial overtures had been conducted over the telephone.
The talks would involve the governor of Samut Prakarn province where Suvarnabhumi is located, a representative of Airports of Thailand, the chairman of the national Human Rights Commission and the media.
A PAD leader earlier said that demonstrators would "fight to the death" against any attempt to evict them from either airport.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of the government elected in December, saying it is a corrupt proxy for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006.
Thailand's powerful army chief on Wednesday urged Somchai to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections but the premier refused, deepening fears of a bloody end to the airport siege.(inquirer.net)
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