The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Bangkok

Thousands of royalist protesters stormed Thai state broadcaster NBT on Tuesday, halting programming, as a part of demonstrations to try to overthrow the elected coalition government.

NBT journalists abandoned their studio in favor of a room at the Bangkok Traffic Police headquarters, from where they resumed transmission after an hour of disruption.

"We can't broadcast from the Vibhavadi headquarters as there are 5,000 protesters on the premises," NBT chief Suriyong Hoonthasarn told Reuters.

The stock market fell two percent at the opening bell amid fears of clashes between demonstrators and police, although it was down 1.55 percent by 0400 GMT, broadly in line with other bourses in the region.