Thai protesters, police clash near base of army unit king controls

A protester flashes a three-finger salute while sitting in front of riot police during an anti-government protest in Bangkok, Thailand February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters marching on a military base in Bangkok on Sunday to call for King Maha Vajiralongkorn to give up direct command of the army unit housed there.

Protesters threw bottles at police and marched right up to a barricade of shipping containers and barbed wire at the entrance to the base of the 1st Infantry Regiment in Bangkok, one of several army units that government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha transferred to the king's control in 2019.