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| Protesters flood Bangkok streets | Protesters flood Bangkok streets |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of protesters have descended onto the streets of Bangkok to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet. | Thousands of protesters have descended onto the streets of Bangkok to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet. |
| They occupied the offices of the state broadcaster NBT and surrounded the main government offices, forcing most civil servants there to stop working. | They occupied the offices of the state broadcaster NBT and surrounded the main government offices, forcing most civil servants there to stop working. |
| One report said protesters had scaled a wall at the prime minister's compound. | One report said protesters had scaled a wall at the prime minister's compound. |
| The protesters say Mr Samak is merely a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now in self-imposed exile. | The protesters say Mr Samak is merely a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now in self-imposed exile. |
| Organisers of the protest - a loose grouping called the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - are united in their hostility to Mr Thaksin, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. | Organisers of the protest - a loose grouping called the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - are united in their hostility to Mr Thaksin, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. |
| The alliance has repeatedly been able to bring thousands of supporters onto the streets this year, and been allowed unusual leeway by the security forces, our correspondent says. | The alliance has repeatedly been able to bring thousands of supporters onto the streets this year, and been allowed unusual leeway by the security forces, our correspondent says. |
| 'Long holiday for government' | 'Long holiday for government' |
| On Tuesday, protesters forced many government offices to stop work. | On Tuesday, protesters forced many government offices to stop work. |
| "We are now controlling most of the key government offices to prevent them from coming to work," said Sondhi Limthongkul, a leading figure in PAD, according to AP news agency. | "We are now controlling most of the key government offices to prevent them from coming to work," said Sondhi Limthongkul, a leading figure in PAD, according to AP news agency. |
| "Today, we declare a long, long holiday for the government." | "Today, we declare a long, long holiday for the government." |
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| Anti-government protesters storm the offices of the state TV station | Anti-government protesters storm the offices of the state TV station |
| Protesters also stormed the offices of the state broadcaster NBT, forcing it off the air. Police arrested several dozen protesters, but then a second wave broke through police lines to reach the station. | Protesters also stormed the offices of the state broadcaster NBT, forcing it off the air. Police arrested several dozen protesters, but then a second wave broke through police lines to reach the station. |
| Live television also showed about 100 protesters sitting on the lawn of the prime minister's official compound, Reuters news agency said. | Live television also showed about 100 protesters sitting on the lawn of the prime minister's official compound, Reuters news agency said. |
| This is a mass protest movement with a difference, our correspondent says. | This is a mass protest movement with a difference, our correspondent says. |
| Central role | Central role |
| Despite the name, the People's Alliance for Democracy is actually campaigning for an end to democracy, arguing that in Thailand Western-style elections have only led to corrupt and ineffective governments. | Despite the name, the People's Alliance for Democracy is actually campaigning for an end to democracy, arguing that in Thailand Western-style elections have only led to corrupt and ineffective governments. |
| Instead, it wants a largely appointed parliament, and a legalised role for the military as a kind of referee in Thai politics, our correspondent adds. | Instead, it wants a largely appointed parliament, and a legalised role for the military as a kind of referee in Thai politics, our correspondent adds. |
| The PAD has already played a central role in Thai politics, beginning three years ago as a movement to bring down Thaksin Shinawatra, then the most powerful elected leader Thailand had ever known. | The PAD has already played a central role in Thai politics, beginning three years ago as a movement to bring down Thaksin Shinawatra, then the most powerful elected leader Thailand had ever known. |
| Its protests set the stage for the coup that ousted him in 2006, and probably helped ensure the legal cases against him went ahead this year, resulting in Mr Thaksin and his wife going back into exile. | Its protests set the stage for the coup that ousted him in 2006, and probably helped ensure the legal cases against him went ahead this year, resulting in Mr Thaksin and his wife going back into exile. |
| Mr Samak is still defiant, insisting he has a democratic mandate from last December's election - but he seems unable to shake off this determined and apparently well-funded opposition movement, our correspondent adds. | Mr Samak is still defiant, insisting he has a democratic mandate from last December's election - but he seems unable to shake off this determined and apparently well-funded opposition movement, our correspondent adds. |
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