Holidaymakers flee Bangkok hotels as Thailand declares state of emergency

Thailand has declared a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok where the main tourist area has been blockaded by the country's red-shirts, who began protesting against the government almost a month ago.

More than a dozen hotels including the Centara Grand, Four Seasons Grand Hyatt, Holiday Inn, InterContinental, Novotel Siam Square and Renaissance are at the centre of the protests.

Some guests have fled and checked into other hotels to avoid the protestors, some of whom were involved in minor clashes with the army earlier this week.

The British Foreign Office has described the political situation in Thailand as 'volatile' and is warning holidaymakers to 'exercise extreme caution throughout the country' and to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, which may turn violent.

Both the red-shirts and the Thai government have said they want to avoid the protests escalating into violence, but the red-shirts insist they will not leave the capital until the prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resigns. Earlier this week up to 1,000 red-shirts stormed the Thai parliament.

As the Foreign Office has not declared Thailand or Bangkok unsafe to visit, tour operators are continuing to operate holidays to the country. Holidaymakers who want to cancel due to the threat of violence should speak to their tour operator, but they may forfeit some or all of their deposit if they do so.

Meanwhile Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Brazil, has been hit by floods and mudslides following days of heavy rain. At least 95 people have been killed and the mayor Eduardo Paes urged everyone to stay indoors.

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