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Today Bkk-post (2)
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<font face="ARIAL" color="#800000"><b>BURMESE EMBASSY SIEGE<br>
</font><font size=7 color="#000000">Weapons whisked past security<br>
</font></b><font size=5><i>No one tried to stop them, witnesses say<br>
</font></i><font size=3><b>Wassayos Ngarmham and Anucha Charoenpo<br>
</font><font size=5>T</font></b><font size=3>he dissidents cleared
security checks at the embassy with their weapons in guitar cases.<br>
Eyewitnesses said the dissidents entered the embassy through the front
and side gates.<br>
Sombat Boonmee, the ambassador's chauffeur, said he left the mission to
deliver a piece of mutton to the ambassador's nearby residence and on his
return saw a song taew minibus blocking the embassy's main
entrance.<br>
A group of men carrying what looked like guitar cases had just walked
through the gate with the minibus driver trailing behind before the gate
was shut in his face. When the driver pounded on the gate, demanding
payment, a gun was turned on him and he fled to his vehicle.<br>
The chauffeur said it was then that he realised something was seriously
wrong and decided to drive away.<br>
Payom Sabsin, a fried banana vendor on Pan road, saw three men with two
guitar bags walk past her stall opposite the embassy's side door.<br>
Mrs Payom, 39, said the three men had bought food from her about a week
ago. "They told me then they missed their home very much and wanted
to go back. I did not quite understand their meaning then."She said
the three ignored her calls for them to buy from her again yesterday and
walked towards the embassy gate. Soon afterwards, she heard gunshots from
inside the embassy.<br>
Nat Lohsuwan, public relations manager at Bayer Co, which has offices
next to the embassy, said he rushed to the fifth floor to watch the
commotion in the embassy compound just before midday. From the Bayer
building, he saw a few briefcases and papers scattered on a lawn near the
flagpole. About 20 minutes later, a man and a woman wearing headbands and
carrying assault rifles took two hostages, a man and a woman, towards a
gate on Sathorn road, he said.<br>
According to Mr Nat, the woman hostage was told to pick up a guitar case
left near the gate and take it inside the embassy.<br>
After 10 minutes, a gunshot was heard from the embassy compound, said Mr
Nat.<br>
An hour later, all of the 450 workers in the Bayer building were told to
leave the premises, which were taken over by police as a command centre.
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