The Thai government is blaming unnamed ‘terrorists’ for explosions which hit commuters in Bangkok on Thursday night, amid deadlock in the Thai capital. Early on Friday, hundreds of riot police crossed a major road to confront red-shirt anti-government protesters. But the police later stepped back from confrontation and the reds agreed to move further away from their barricade. Britain, the US and Australia have issued new warnings against travelling to Thailand in the attacks' aftermath. Six weeks of red-shirt protests have severely challenged the Thai government. The protesters are occupying swathes of Bangkok's shopping hub and have built barricades, the largest of which faces police in the Silom business district. Pressure is rising on the government to find a way out of the conflict but room for negotiation appears to be slim, correspondents say. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said through a spokesman that it was ‘a moment requiring restraint on all sides’.

Pray: against extreme measures on all sides and for restraint to allow for peaceful negotiation. For Christians working in Thailand to have freedom to share the Gospel. (Mt.24:12-14)

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8638942.stm