Thai army begins crackdown on protesters-witness

BANGKOK, April 13 (Reuters) - The Thai army has started a crackdown on anti-government protesters and shooting was heard as they moved to secure a major junction in the capital, forcing back hundreds of protesters, a Reuters reporter said.

He said protesters threw stones and retreated to side streets. Fires blazed in the middle of Viphavadi-Rangsit, a main thoroughfare out of the city going to its north, close to Victory Monument.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in Bangkok on Sunday. (Reporting by Kittipong Soonprasert; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Jon Boyle)