Thailand's army has begun an operation to remove anti-government protesters blocking the centre of the capital Bangkok, sparking violent clashes.
Forty-nine people were injured as hundreds of soldiers advanced against the crowd at a major road junction close to the landmark Victory Monument.
Tear gas and bullets were fired as stones and petrol bombs were thrown.
As daylight broke, the city was still tense after what is the first serious clash in weeks of mass protests.
Monday's clashes took place several kilometres from the prime minister's office where the protesters have their main encampment.
Bangkok is tense with expectation this morning, the BBC's Alastair Leithead reports from another junction where troops have gathered in riot gear.
There are stand-offs across the city as troops face protesters armed with sticks who have been setting fires, he says.
The outcome of the confrontation depends very much on what tactics the troops employ, he adds.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier declared a state of emergency after the protesters, who mostly back ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, stopped a major Asian summit in Pattaya.
Mr Thaksin has called for a "revolution" against the government.
'Hundreds of rounds'
Witnesses told the Associated Press news agency that troops had advanced against the protesters at the the Din Daeng intersection between 0400 and 0500 (2100 and 2200 GMT Sunday).
Some of the protesters could be seen with petrol bombs
"The soldiers fired hundreds of rounds from their M-16 automatic rifles as they advanced, though it was unclear whether they were firing at, or over, the protesters," the agency says.
An army spokesman, Col Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, said about 400 soldiers had moved against some 300 protesters.
He accused protesters of driving a car at the soldiers and said troops had first fired into the air in response to tear gas and smoke bombs thrown at them by protesters.
The soldiers then fired live rounds, he said.
"We will start with soft measures and proceed to harder ones," the army spokesman told AFP news agency.
"We will avoid loss of life as instructed by the government."
Call for calm
Earlier on Sunday, protesters broke into the interior ministry and at one point attacked a car they thought was carrying Prime Minister Abhisit. He was not inside.
They blocked a number of busy road junctions and at least one railway, and took over buses and two armoured vehicles.
The collapse of the summit was a huge embarrassment to Mr Abhisit Vejjajiva and he has vowed to restore order, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
He appeared on TV just before midnight, called on the public not to panic and to co-operate to end the crisis.
"In the next three to four days, the government will keep working to return peace and order to the country," he said.
The camera panned to the commanders of the army, navy, air force and deputy police chief as he said:
"I can confirm that the government and security agencies are still unified."
'Time for revolution'
Mr Thaksin, who addresses his supporters by telephone from self-imposed exile abroad, called for a "revolution" on Sunday.
About 400 soldiers took part in the operation
"Now that they have tanks on the streets, it is time for the people to come out in revolution," he said in a message shown on giant screens near the prime minister's office.
"And when it is necessary, I will come back to the country."
Under the state of emergency, gatherings of more than five people can be banned, media reports can be censored and the army can be deployed to help police maintain order.
Last year, the government imposed a state of emergency on several occasions but the army refused to enact the measures.
That crisis eventually led to Mr Abhisit's government taking over from allies of Mr Thaksin.
Our correspondent in Bangkok says the problem for Mr Abhisit is that he rode to power on the back of protests that were just as illegal, and may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7996241.stm
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