At least eight persons are known to have died in the latest violence in the Thai capital Bangkok. More than 100 others have been wounded. Explosions and gun fire occurred across the city centre on Friday. Violence escalated after a renegade general who was backing the protest was shot by an unknown gunman on Thursday, leaving him in a critical condition. Embassies have been closed as protesters set fire to a police bus and shot fireworks at troops who also responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. The demonstrators want the Prime Minister to resign and call elections. Many of the so-called red-shirt protesters support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.