Anti-government protesters caused chaos in the terminal triggering assumptions of impending military intervention after tightening their grip over Bangkok"s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday.
It was stated that army chief Anupong Paochinda would hold a news conference after discussing protests by the People"s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) with security officials and business leaders.
Several times Anupong had insisted he would not launch a coup after the military"s removal of Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister, although he had publicly urged Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down.
Once masked PAD members forced into the control tower at Bangkok"s USD$4 billion Suvarnabhumi airport, a rival pro-government group directed its supporters to hit the streets, which raised the prospect of clashes.
Addressing a news conference, Jatuporn Prompan, a ruling party politician and leader of the anti-PAD Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship said, "What they have done are terrorist acts.â
Following the protest, a statement by Thai Airways, the national carrier, said 16 inbound flights were diverted to Bangkok"s old airport Don Muang, located at about 45 km (30 miles) from Suvarnabhumi, while another three flights were diverted to a Vietnam War-era air base at about 150 km southeast of Bangkok. Overnight, thousands of travellers slept on benches and luggage carousels at the airport waiting for their flights.
