Thai army chief takes charge of restoring order

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BANGKOK, APR 16 (AP): Thailand’s prime minister has placed the army commander in charge of restoring order after a failed raid to arrestanti-government protest leaders.
In a national television broadcast late Friday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that Gen. Anupong Paochinda would take charge of the peacekeeping force meant to prevent violence by red-shirted protesters who are seeking to topple his government.
Previously, a deputy prime minister was in charge.
When soldiers tried to clear a Red Shirt rally site last Saturday, a fierce battle broke out, leaving two dozen people dead and hundreds injured.
Police tried to arrest several Red Shirt leaders Friday, but they escaped. One of the leaders climbed by a rope from a third-storyhotel balcony.