Planes fly out empty in deal with Thai protesters

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Around 30 planes left Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday and another 50 were expected to leave today after Thai authorities reached a deal with the blockading protesters.

Some of the planes leaving Bangkok were scheduled to fly to protest-free airports elsewhere in the country to pick up stranded travellers who have been bussed there.

The move came as demonstrators entered their eighth day of occupation of Bangkok's main airports. Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy accuse the government of being a puppet of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

They occupied Suvarnabhumi international airport as part of a campaign to force prime minister Somchai Wongsawat from office. The following day they seized Don Muang airport.

Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell appeared to rule out using government-chartered flights, saying that they would not help people get home any quicker.

He told Radio 5 Live: "The key issue is the fact the two airports in Bangkok are closed and therefore you've effectively got planes stacking up and not being able to get slots."

The government has urged Thai authorities, the army and protesters to work together to resolve the crisis quickly. Thai media suggests that as many as 100,000 tourists have been stranded as a result.

The situation appeared to deteriorate over the weekend with reports of a series of explosions injuring dozens of protesters.

Thousands of red-clad supporters of the Thai government have gathered in Bangkok to oppose the PAD.

Restarting Suvarnabhumi airport will take at least a week from the end of the current sit-in because of security and IT system checks, its general manager said today.

The Foreign Office said: "The situation remains tense and we are following events very closely. Bangkok's two main airports remain closed but airlines have been able to arrange flights and transfers to and from alternative airports. Some British nationals have been able to fly out but not in the necessary numbers."