Thai anti-government protesters today apologised for storming a hospital forcing the evacuation of some patients.
Protest leaders apologised after more than 200 "red shirts" forced their way into Chulalongkorn University Hospital late last night to look for soldiers they accused of preparing an attack.
"We truly apologise. That should not have happened and we don't approve of it," said Weng Tojirakarn, a protest leader.
Mr Tojirakarn acknowledged some red shirts have a "cowboy attitude" that presents an image problem for the movement, which is already struggling to get support from middle-class Bangkok.
Protesters later cleared part of the road in front of the hospital to allow access for ambulances and patients, and were erecting a new barricade of tyres and bamboo poles on the other side of the road.
They were also using bales of razor wire, which up until now was what security forces have used as barriers. It was the second setback in a week for thousands of mostly rural and urban poor supporters of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after security forces on Wednesday stopped an attempt to hold "mobile rallies" outside their 3 sq-km fortified encampment in Bangkok's shopping district.
The encampment, which forced the closure of several upscale department stores and hotels, has become a tented city within a city, deepening a crisis that Minister for Finance Korn Chatikavanij said could reduce Thailand's economic growth rate by two percentage points if it continues all year.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand expressed confidence in the economy - Southeast Asia's second largest - but acknowledged foreign investors have turned cautious, selling $264 million in stocks over the past six trading days.
That's driving the baht currency to its largest weekly loss since January.
Reuters