Red shirts skirmish with police in Bangkok

Scuffles broke out in Bangkok yesterday between riot police and anti-government protesters, while a grenade exploded outside the ruling party's offices, fanning tensions in the capital.
The red-shirted supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra threw plastic bottles and pushed against police barricades, paralysing Bangkok's shopping and hotel district for a fourth day, despite the threat of arrest.
"We are ready to fight and die here," Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar said with a raised fist on a rally stage.
"The government put pressure on us, but we are staying put. Now we will retaliate with our own offensive," he said, vowing to "break every checkpoint" in the capital.
A grenade exploded outside the headquarters of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's party, slightly injuring two policemen, officials said. Abhisit was not present at the time.