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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Thai demonstrators leave airports | Thai demonstrators leave airports |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Anti-government protesters have left Bangkok's main airports after an eight-day siege that has paralysed government and stymied tourism. | Anti-government protesters have left Bangkok's main airports after an eight-day siege that has paralysed government and stymied tourism. |
| They packed up bedding before handing over both the international and domestic airports to the authorities. | They packed up bedding before handing over both the international and domestic airports to the authorities. |
| The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) called off the protests after a court banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics. | |
| The protests have left thousands of tourists stranded in Thailand. | The protests have left thousands of tourists stranded in Thailand. |
| The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says the lifting of the blockade at the international airport felt like the end of a giant party, as yellow-clad protesters piled their belongings on to buses and headed home. | |
| Some lined up for souvenir autographs from their leaders in front of the giant terminal building, our correspondent adds. | Some lined up for souvenir autographs from their leaders in front of the giant terminal building, our correspondent adds. |
| Unpopular | Unpopular |
| The PAD had been demanding the resignation of the prime minister, who they say is a proxy for deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra. | The PAD had been demanding the resignation of the prime minister, who they say is a proxy for deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra. |
| Mr Somchai, who has been waiting out the siege in the northern city of Chiang Mai, says his allies will be forming a caretaker government with a new leader shortly. | Mr Somchai, who has been waiting out the siege in the northern city of Chiang Mai, says his allies will be forming a caretaker government with a new leader shortly. |
| ESCALATING CONFLICT September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in military coupFebruary 2008: Samak Sundaravej sworn in as prime ministerAugust 2008: PAD protesters occupy government buildings, demanding the government step downSeptember 2008: Mr Samak dismissed for violating conflict of interest law. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, becomes prime ministerOctober 2008: Thaksin given a two-year jail sentence for corruption in his absence26 November 2008: Anti-government protesters take control of Bangkok's main airport2 December 2008: Thai court rules that PM Somchai should be banned from politics, and his party should be dissolved3 December 2008:Protesters vacate Bangkok airports Thai crisis exposes class struggleQ&A: Bangkok protestsExtra planes for stranded Britons | ESCALATING CONFLICT September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in military coupFebruary 2008: Samak Sundaravej sworn in as prime ministerAugust 2008: PAD protesters occupy government buildings, demanding the government step downSeptember 2008: Mr Samak dismissed for violating conflict of interest law. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, becomes prime ministerOctober 2008: Thaksin given a two-year jail sentence for corruption in his absence26 November 2008: Anti-government protesters take control of Bangkok's main airport2 December 2008: Thai court rules that PM Somchai should be banned from politics, and his party should be dissolved3 December 2008:Protesters vacate Bangkok airports Thai crisis exposes class struggleQ&A: Bangkok protestsExtra planes for stranded Britons |
| The Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that the three parties in the ruling coalition must disband. Each of them has since been re-formed under new names. | The Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that the three parties in the ruling coalition must disband. Each of them has since been re-formed under new names. |
| The same Constitutional Court deposed a pro-Thaksin government in September - that of Samak Sundaravej. | The same Constitutional Court deposed a pro-Thaksin government in September - that of Samak Sundaravej. |
| The PAD insisted on fighting on against allies of Mr Thaksin. | The PAD insisted on fighting on against allies of Mr Thaksin. |
| This time, although Mr Somchai's allies plan to field a new government, the PAD is claiming victory. | This time, although Mr Somchai's allies plan to field a new government, the PAD is claiming victory. |
| Correspondents say the airport blockade was becoming increasingly unpopular, so that Tuesday's court ruling against Mr Somchai offered a face-saving moment for the protesters to back down. | Correspondents say the airport blockade was becoming increasingly unpopular, so that Tuesday's court ruling against Mr Somchai offered a face-saving moment for the protesters to back down. |
| But the divisions that caused the protests, and regular recourse to the courts against the government, remain, correspondents say. | |
| "The PAD will return if another (Thaksin) proxy government is formed or anyone tries to amend the constitution or the law to whitewash some politicians or to subdue the monarch's royal authority," one of the protest leaders, Sondhi Limthongkul, said on Tuesday night. | "The PAD will return if another (Thaksin) proxy government is formed or anyone tries to amend the constitution or the law to whitewash some politicians or to subdue the monarch's royal authority," one of the protest leaders, Sondhi Limthongkul, said on Tuesday night. |
| Chaturon Chaisaeng, a former Thaksin Cabinet member, suggested there could be civil war if the protest alliance presses for a non-elected government. | Chaturon Chaisaeng, a former Thaksin Cabinet member, suggested there could be civil war if the protest alliance presses for a non-elected government. |
| "Why do we still condone the PAD, who are waging terrorist attacks against government buildings and the democratic system? Do all Thai people have to bow to the PAD's orders and demands?" | "Why do we still condone the PAD, who are waging terrorist attacks against government buildings and the democratic system? Do all Thai people have to bow to the PAD's orders and demands?" |
| Domestic passenger flight are due to resume later on Wednesday, and international flights on Thursday. | Domestic passenger flight are due to resume later on Wednesday, and international flights on Thursday. |
| However a full return to normal will take two days, officials said. | However a full return to normal will take two days, officials said. |
| The airport closures have left more than 300,000 tourists stranded in Thailand and cost the economy huge amounts in lost revenues. | |
| At least six people have been killed over six months of protests and scores have been injured. | At least six people have been killed over six months of protests and scores have been injured. |
| Reporters said the image of the country has taken a battering. | Reporters said the image of the country has taken a battering. |