Thailand protests: clashes cause chaos outside parliament

Skirmishes break out between rival groups as police fire water cannon and MPs flee in boats

Thailand's riverside parliament was surrounded by chaos as police repeatedly fired water cannon at pro-democracy protesters, clashes broke out between the demonstrators and royalist counterparts, and MPs abandoned the scene in boats.

Five people were treated for gunshot wounds after the most violent clashes since a student-led movement emerged in July. A further 36 people suffered other injuries in the protests, according to Bangkok's Erawan emergency medical centre.