Thai police crack down on protest with rubber bullets, tear gas

Pro-democracy protesters set a police truck on fire during a protest calling for the resignation of prime minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha in Bangkok on Aug 11, 2021. - AFP

BANGKOK (AFP): Thai police used rubber bullets and tear gas on protesters for a second day in a row on Wednesday (Aug 9) as demonstrators rallied against the government and its handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Demonstrators in Bangkok defied a ban on public gatherings as Thailand tries to curb its worst virus outbreak so far -- more than 21,000 new cases were announced on Wednesday.