Residents riot against police violence in Phuket, Thailand

A rare, violent riot broke on out on the popular Thailand island resort of Phuket when residents accused police of using excessive violence in the deaths of two teenagers they alleged of petty drug dealing.

The riot appeared to ignite spontaneously after a police car rammed two teenagers on a motorcycle, killing them both.

Police claimed they were chasing the two dead youths on suspicion they had used illegal drugs.

After the fatal collisions, officers claimed they found 50 methamphetamine tablets, commonly known as ya ba, or "crazy medicine." It is the most common illegal drug in Thailand.

Even the claim of finding 50 tablets was disputed by protesters, some of whom believed police planted the pills after the deaths. In any case, even 50 ya ba tablets is a tiny amount in the country where seizures of one million or more pills are common.

The rioters gathered and forced the closure of the road to Phuket's busy airport, where most of the island-province's tourists arrive and depart. At least two Molotov cocktails were thrown at the police station, although no casualties or major damage was reported through the night.

Phuket attracts roughly one million tourists a year. The riot took place in popular Thalang district, home of the pristine Sirinat National Marine Park.

Such violence is rare in Thailand, despite a widespread distrust of the national police because of their perceived corruption.

About 12 hours after violence erupted, police officers agreed to negotiate with several villagers on behalf of the protesters. They promised a thorough investigation of the deaths of the youths, and the protesters cleared the roads and returned home.