Thai police tell 'red shirts' to clear barricade

BANGKOK, April 23 (Reuters) - Hundreds of riot police moved in front of a barricade erected by 'red shirt' protesters in Bangkok's Silom business district early on Friday and told them to dismantle it, television said.

Television pictures then showed some protesters pouring what a TV reporter said was fuel onto the barricade, which is made up largely of tyres, with sharpened bamboo poles inserted.

A series of grenade blasts in that area killed at least three people late on Thursday. The government said the grenades were fired from the red shirt protest area. Leaders of the red shirts, who are demanding a new election, denied they were responsible.

(Reporting by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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