Bangkok market blast injures 13

Market vendors are unhappy with new lease conditions

A small explosive device, thrown from a flyover in the Thai capital, Bangkok, has injured 13 people.

Market vendors had been gathered at the site to protest a rent hike at the government-owned facility, police said.

Two of the market protesters have been hospitalised with serious injuries, and tents and equipment have been damaged.

Officials said the violence appeared to have nothing to do with the ongoing political protests in other parts of Bangkok.

Some of the protesters have been camping at the site and were asleep when the explosion occurred at about 0100 (1800 GMT).

Of those injured, two reportedly remain in hospital with serious injuries.

Hundreds of vendors who operate stalls at the outdoor market in Bangkok have been staging a protest since Wednesday against Legal Professional Co Ltd, the facility's new privately contracted management company, police said.

The market's land is owned by the Port Authority of Thailand, which recently hired the new management for the market.

The protesters allege the bidding process was not fair and that the new management had sharply raised rents without improving conditions.