Anti-government protesters hurled rocks at police who responded by firing tear gas during clashes in Bangkok, Thailand, today (August 10).

Footage shows the stand-off with riot officers in the Din Daeng district of the capital shortly after 5 pm local time.

The clashes came after demonstrators poured mock blood at the entrance of the Sino-Thai Tower where the party of Anutin Charnvirakul – who blamed ‘dirty foreigners’ at the start of the pandemic – is based.

They also left white dolls at the entrance to symbolise those who have been killed by the virus from China.

Anger at the regime – which seized power with a military coup in 2014 – has grown in recent years sparking mass protests.

Activists are demanding new elections, the prime minister to resign and a new constitution with ‘more democracy’.

Ministers say the unrest is being fuelled by disaffected opposition and exiled politicians such as former Man City owner Thaksin Shinawatra to encourage anarchists and youth groups to cause violence.

Thailand has recorded 795,951 Covid-19 cases and 6,588 deaths as of August 10 – with cases rising dramatically since April. Ministers have banned gatherings of more than five people and rolled out a 9 pm curfew in the worst-hit regions.