SOLDIERS guarded Phuket's Provincial Hall in Phuket City today to protect it from any possible takeover. Red shirt protesters in Bangkok earlier today had spoken of seizing Provincial Halls in other parts of the country.

A crowd of about 100 people, including at least one former Yellow Shirt leader, gathered in the park opposite Provincial Hall about 4pm. Later, they moved across and gathered at the gate.

The army contingent arrived at Phuket's key administrative building following a day of confrontation in Bangkok, with tear gas and water cannon reported used on red shirt protesters and protesters said to have taken over six army trucks and captured about 30 weapons.

This afternoon, despite the confrontation, the soldiers and red shirt protesters appeared calm at the television station, the BBC reported.

Phuket's red shirt leader was among those who took part in the confrontation at the television station.

The protest at Phuket's Provincial Hall later in the afternoon was by a group who style themselves ''Thai People.'' Among them are people who were part of the yellow shirt movement.

The Governor, Wichai Praisa-ngob, was not on the island today. In the past, he has urged demonstrators and people with grievances to make their feelings known at Provincial Hall rather than march through the streets, or blockade roads.

For a time in the disturbances that led to the government of the Democrat Party, yellow shirts occupied the grounds of Provincial Hall, in a picnic-like atmosphere.

However, the red shirts only have a small representation on Phuket, which traditionally votes for the Democrat Party.

Yellow shirts would be likely to resist any serious red shirt ''invasion.'' Today's protest was peaceful.

Earlier Report:

RED SHIRT protesters have surrounded the Thaicom television station, ordered to close by the government. Tear gas has been fired by soldiers, Thai news report say on television.

Reports said the reds had captured six army trucks and about 30 weapons.

The first real confrontation of the four-week standoff came before 3pm. Ten people have been affected by tear gas, one Thai television station was reporting.

Phuket red leader Suntorn Teoma was among the hundreds who stormed into the compound. He told Phuketwan they were planning to move quickly to take action in other parts of Bangkok next.

The Xinhua news agency reported that several policemen and protesters were injured during the television station confrontation, which began about 2.40pm.

The reds, incensed at the official clamp on the television station, moved to the transmission studios on outskirts of Bangkok, determined to retake it. First reports said that the tear gas, fired by soldiers, was swept back towards them by the prevailing breeze.

However, is is believed some people were harmed by the tear gas and are now being treated. Water cannon were also used on the reds, reports said.

The reds took over six army trucks and drove them around in triumph, reports said.