No use of force on protests: Thai court

A Thai court yesterday ordered the government not to use force against peaceful protesters after clashes between demonstrators and police left five dead and dozens wounded on both sides.

The ruling by the Civil Court could complicate Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's handling of more than three months of mass opposition protests, AFP reported.

The court also rejected a demand by the opposition to revoke a 60-day state of emergency imposed in Bangkok and surrounding areas to deal with the protests.

But in a complex ruling, it ordered the government not to enforce regulations issued under the state of emergency decree, such as a ban on the use of certain roads by protesters, in a new legal setback to Ms Yingluck.