By The Nation, Agencies
Foreign nations have rushed to evacuate their nationals being stranded in Thailand after anti-government protesters closed down Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.
China had provided seven charter flights to repatriate its stranded nationals, believed to number 2,000-3,000 people, by Saturday and had further flights planned for Sunday, Xinhua news agency said.
The agency said the first of the flights bringing home Chinese citizens arrived in Shanghai early on Sunday.
Meanwhile Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered her foreign department to account for hundreds of Filipinos among those stranded in the Thai capital and asked that they be brought home to Manila from the northern city of Chiang Mai.
Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said his government was becoming increasingly frustrated by Thai authorities' inability to help evacuate tourists caught up in the demonstrations which have paralysed air traffic.
"It's very frustrating for us and it's very frustrating for those stranded Australians," he said.
"Some are becoming increasingly distressed, and we understand that. We've been working very hard putting pressure on the Thai airlines and on the Thai tourism authorities to try and get some Thai airline flights out.
He said Canberra had urged Thai airlines and tourism authorities to provide extra flights out and accommodation for the hundreds of luckless Australian visitors, but noted that "we can't rely upon... that presenting a conclusion".
Australian airline Qantas would provide extra flights to Thailand, but that is dependent upon getting access to the airports and getting flights in, Smith said.
Japan's two major airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said Sunday they are organising flights from the U-Tapao air base to bring back tourists stranded by mass protests.
Meanwhile Spain will send three planes, two military aircraft and a chartered plane to Thailand to bring back some 300 of its citizens.
"Considering the special circumstances in Thailand, the Spanish government has decided to take action so that Spanish nationals affected by the continuing closure of the Bangkok airports can return home," said a foreign ministry statement.
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Foreign nations have rushed to evacuate their nationals being stranded in Thailand after anti-government protesters closed down Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports.
China had provided seven charter flights to repatriate its stranded nationals, believed to number 2,000-3,000 people, by Saturday and had further flights planned for Sunday, Xinhua news agency said.
The agency said the first of the flights bringing home Chinese citizens arrived in Shanghai early on Sunday.
Meanwhile Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered her foreign department to account for hundreds of Filipinos among those stranded in the Thai capital and asked that they be brought home to Manila from the northern city of Chiang Mai.
Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said his government was becoming increasingly frustrated by Thai authorities' inability to help evacuate tourists caught up in the demonstrations which have paralysed air traffic.
"It's very frustrating for us and it's very frustrating for those stranded Australians," he said.
"Some are becoming increasingly distressed, and we understand that. We've been working very hard putting pressure on the Thai airlines and on the Thai tourism authorities to try and get some Thai airline flights out.
He said Canberra had urged Thai airlines and tourism authorities to provide extra flights out and accommodation for the hundreds of luckless Australian visitors, but noted that "we can't rely upon... that presenting a conclusion".
Australian airline Qantas would provide extra flights to Thailand, but that is dependent upon getting access to the airports and getting flights in, Smith said.
Japan's two major airlines, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said Sunday they are organising flights from the U-Tapao air base to bring back tourists stranded by mass protests.
Meanwhile Spain will send three planes, two military aircraft and a chartered plane to Thailand to bring back some 300 of its citizens.
"Considering the special circumstances in Thailand, the Spanish government has decided to take action so that Spanish nationals affected by the continuing closure of the Bangkok airports can return home," said a foreign ministry statement.
Discuss
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