Bangkok death toll rises

Thai troops are clashing with anti-government protesters in the capital Bangkok, on a third day of violence that has killed at least 16 people. Plumes of smoke are rising from sections of the city center, where the protesters, who want the prime minister to resign, are barricaded in a camp. Bangkok death toll rises Authorities have ruled out negotiations with the red-shirt protesters. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged both protesters and the authorities to avoid further violence. His office said he "strongly encourages them to urgently return to dialogue in order to de-escalate the situation and resolve matters peacefully". The U.S. has also urged restraint and encouraged the two sides "to find a way to work peacefully through these differences". Despite claims by the Thai government that the situation is under control and its soldiers have only fired in self-defense, explosions and sporadic gunfire can still be heard around the protest site, where barricades of tyres are still burning. The Bangkok authorities have cut off water and electricity to the camp in a renewed effort by the government to reclaim the city center after a two-month stand-off. Some 150 people have been injured since violence broke out in the Thai capital on Thursday evening. Troops have set up roadblocks to prevent further protesters from entering the camp. Around a third of the city is now under emergency rule, but while there are pockets of fighting in that area, life beyond the barricades seems to be going on as normal, correspondents say. Inside the camp, red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana said stocks were running low because of the blockade, but added that they would last "for days". "We'll keep on fighting until the government takes responsibility," he said. On Friday, troops fired live rounds, tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with the protesters, who threw petrol bombs and stones at the soldiers. Journalists shot Violence escalated on Thursday after a renegade general who supports the protests was shot in the head by an unknown gunman. Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, better known as Seh Daeng (Commander Red), is in a critical condition and doctors believe he is unlikely to survive. The American and British embassies were among several foreign missions closed on Friday. Broadcaster France 24 said its Canadian-born TV reporter Nelson Rand had been hit in the leg, hand and abdomen. He has undergone surgery and is said to be recovering. A Thai cameraman from the VoiceTV news website and a photographer for the Thai newspaper Matichon were both shot in the leg, their news outlets said. A government spokesman said troops had come under attack and "had no choice but to respond". The spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said soldiers were authorised to use live rounds in self-defence, for warning shots or against armed protesters. The military said some protesters had fired guns and threw grenades. The protesters, who have adopted the colour red, have reinforced the barricades around their camp made of bamboo stakes, tyres and sandbags. Many of the protesters support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup. They want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections. He had offered polls in November - but the two sides failed to agree a deal because of divisions over who should be held accountable for a deadly crackdown on protests last month. Thaksin has called on the government to withdraw troops and restart negotiations. Thailand's worst political unrest in nearly two decades has now left at least 42 people dead and more than 1,400 wounded.

Bangkok death toll rises

Authorities have ruled out negotiations with the red-shirt protesters.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged both protesters and the authorities to avoid further violence.

His office said he "strongly encourages them to urgently return to dialogue in order to de-escalate the situation and resolve matters peacefully".

The U.S. has also urged restraint and encouraged the two sides "to find a way to work peacefully through these differences".

Despite claims by the Thai government that the situation is under control and its soldiers have only fired in self-defense, explosions and sporadic gunfire can still be heard around the protest site, where barricades of tyres are still burning.

The Bangkok authorities have cut off water and electricity to the camp in a renewed effort by the government to reclaim the city center after a two-month stand-off.

Some 150 people have been injured since violence broke out in the Thai capital on Thursday evening.

Troops have set up roadblocks to prevent further protesters from entering the camp.

Around a third of the city is now under emergency rule, but while there are pockets of fighting in that area, life beyond the barricades seems to be going on as normal, correspondents say.

Inside the camp, red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana said stocks were running low because of the blockade, but added that they would last "for days".

"We'll keep on fighting until the government takes responsibility," he said.

On Friday, troops fired live rounds, tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with the protesters, who threw petrol bombs and stones at the soldiers.

Journalists shot

Violence escalated on Thursday after a renegade general who supports the protests was shot in the head by an unknown gunman.

Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, better known as Seh Daeng (Commander Red), is in a critical condition and doctors believe he is unlikely to survive.

The American and British embassies were among several foreign missions closed on Friday.

Broadcaster France 24 said its Canadian-born TV reporter Nelson Rand had been hit in the leg, hand and abdomen. He has undergone surgery and is said to be recovering.

A Thai cameraman from the VoiceTV news website and a photographer for the Thai newspaper Matichon were both shot in the leg, their news outlets said.

A government spokesman said troops had come under attack and "had no choice but to respond".

The spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said soldiers were authorised to use live rounds in self-defence, for warning shots or against armed protesters.

The military said some protesters had fired guns and threw grenades.

The protesters, who have adopted the colour red, have reinforced the barricades around their camp made of bamboo stakes, tyres and sandbags.

Many of the protesters support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

They want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections.

He had offered polls in November - but the two sides failed to agree a deal because of divisions over who should be held accountable for a deadly crackdown on protests last month.

Thaksin has called on the government to withdraw troops and restart negotiations.

Thailand's worst political unrest in nearly two decades has now left at least 42 people dead and more than 1,400 wounded.