The Wire

Thailand has descended into violence again tonight after security forces launched a final crackdown to evict Red Shirt protesters from their fortified encampment in downtown Bangkok. At least 36 people were killed and hundreds wounded over the weekend after the government declared live firing zones in parts of the city. The latest clashes erupted after a dissident Army General allied with the Red Shirts was shot by an unidentified sniper on Thursday night. Suspended Army Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol, known as Seh Daeng, was being interviewed by local and foreign journalists when he was critically wounded. He died in hospital earlier today. Thomas Fuller of the New York Times was interviewing Seh Daeng when the shot rang out.