Protests force closure of three Thai airports: operator

BANGKOK: Thai authorities Friday closed three airports Friday, stranding travellers at popular beach resorts as thousands of protesters stormed the runway, the airport operator said.

Tourist-packed Phuket and Krabi airports were closed along with the deep south's Hat Yai airport.

On the southern resort island of Phuket more than 5,000 anti-government protesters invaded Phuket International Airport, preventing passengers from going in or out, said Airports of Thailand spokeswoman Monrudee Ketphand.

"The director of Phuket International Airport decided to temporarily shut down the airport because protesters have trespassed on the parking spots and blocked the runways," said Monrudee.

"The Phuket governor is trying to negotiate with protesters now."

Soon after, the company's president Sereerat Prasutanont confirmed two further airports had closed.

"The authority shut down both Hat Yai and Krabi airports soon after Phuket was closed because officials are unable to operate," he told AFP.

"The duration of the closure will depend on how the situation develops," he added.

Monrudee said there was speculation that similar protests were planned for the northern hubs of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Thailand is a major tourist destination, attracting around 15 million foreign visitors a year.

The airport protests came as thousands of activists laid siege to Bangkok's Government House for the fourth straight day, calling for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.