BANGKOK, THAILAND - Anti-government protesters stormed the control tower at Bangkok's main international airport on Wednesday, a day after they stormed the main terminal, forcing airlines to cancel flights, media reports said.

The Bangkok Post in a text messages to subscribers said masked members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) invaded the control tower at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The leader of a pro-government group in Thailand urged supporters to march in Bangkok, raising the prospect of street clashes with anti-government protesters.

Thai Army Chief to hold news conference

General Anupong Paochinda also announced that he will hold a news conference at around 3pm to discuss the escalating protests after meeting government officials and business leaders.

The unrest has triggered speculation the army will try to force the government to stand down.

Bomb blasts wounded protestors

A series of small bomb blasts wounded several anti-government protesters blockading the airport on Wednesday, protest leaders said, as chaos ruled inside the terminal.

One bomb wounded four members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a spokesman said, hours after the PAD stormed the airport late on Tuesday in a dramatic escalation of its six-month campaign to oust Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.

The Nation newspaper said on its website three explosions had been heard outside the $4 billion terminal, the gateway for nearly 15 million tourists to Thailand last year.

The Nation said a fourth blast appeared to target PAD supporters in another part of Bangkok. It said 12 people were wounded in the overnight attacks, but police have not confirmed the casualties.

Markets down

Markets were under some pressure after the latest eruption in a political deadlock that is entering its fourth year.

Thailand's benchmark stocks index dropped more than 2 percent to a fresh 5-year low and the baht was trading at 35.29, after hitting a 21-month low of 35.36 earlier in the day.

Thailand's finance minister has said the protests could have a damaging effect on the economy, which depends on tourism as a key sector and is already vulnerable to global financial turmoil.

Thai authorities start moving passengers from airport: witness

Thai authorities Wednesday began evacuating passengers who were stranded overnight at Bangkok international airport after anti-government protesters stormed the building, an AFP reporter said.

Hundreds of weary travellers were herded out of the arrivals area at Suvarnabhumi airport on to buses provided by the facility's operator, the correspondent said.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) 'agreed to allow Airports of Thailand (AOT) and Thai Airways to evacuate 3,000 stranded passengers into town as soon as possible,' an AOT official said earlier.

'AOT will provide 15 buses and Thai Airways will be responsible for city accommodation,' the official told AFP.

Dazed, stranded tourists just want out of Thailand

With the $4 billion terminal besieged by anti-government protesters, forcing the cancellation of all flights on Wednesday, foreign tourists had little option but to bed down on benches, behind check-in desks, even on luggage carousels.

'This is a big problem,' Dutch tourist John Crushak said as he lay on a makeshift bed of clothes and suitcases in one of the world's biggest airports. 'I just want to go home. I don't care what has happened. This can't go on any longer.'

Dishevelled men and women wandered around the terminal soon after sunrise in search of coffee, food and some word about what was going on.

'I understand the people but the airlines are terrible. They've given us no information,' said Swede Christopher Persson, who spent the night underneath a check-in desk. 'I haven't had any sleep. I don't know whether to go to Bangkok or stay here. It's just terrible,' he said.

Despite the anger, People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters camped outside the terminal doors were unapologetic.

They said their airport protest was justified as part of their 6-month-long bid to remove an elected government they believe is a puppet of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

'We will stay until the government steps down. This government is not legitimate. Thaksin is in control,' said retired university lecturer Sunthorn Kaewlai, dressed in the PAD's obligatory yellow worn in honour of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 'We have not interfered with passengers' travel. The airport authorities have to run this airport,' he added.

Behind him long queues snaked out of the toilets, the flooded, filthy floors of which were likely to dent the reputation of the"'Land of Smiles" as a premier tourist destination that welcomes more than 14 million people a year.

'I understand these people want change, but to shut down an airport for their cause is a bit much and it won't help this country,' said American Gary Biermann, who was resigned to not getting home in time for Thanksgiving on Thursday. 'It shouldn't affect the way I feel about Thailand but it will,' he said.