Thai Army chief calls for elections [November 26 2008]

Thailand's army commander urged protesters today to leave Bangkok airport and called for elections to end the country's political crisis after a day of chaos in which thousands of travelers were stranded.All flights were canceled and frustrated passengers bused to hotels, as protesters shut down Suvarnabhumi Airport in a major escalation of their four-month campaign to oust the prime minister.

"The government should give the public a chance to decide in a fresh election," Gen. Anupong Paochinda said at a news conference after meeting with high-level government officials, academics, economists and security officials.

Suriyasai Katasila, a spokesman for the protesters, said the group would not abide by the army chief's plea to leave the country's international airport. "Right now, our demand remains the same. If the government does not quit, we will not quit," he said. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat returned to Thailand today from a summit in Peru, but there was no response from the government to the army chief's call for new elections.