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Army pressure ends Thai protest | Army pressure ends Thai protest |
(20 minutes later) | |
A lengthy anti-government protest in the centre of Thailand's capital, Bangkok, has broken up. | A lengthy anti-government protest in the centre of Thailand's capital, Bangkok, has broken up. |
Large groups of demonstrators who had been camped around the Government House have been walking away from the area that has been occupied for three weeks. | Large groups of demonstrators who had been camped around the Government House have been walking away from the area that has been occupied for three weeks. |
The news follows calls by protest leaders for people to leave the area, after thousands of police and soldiers moved to tighten a cordon overnight. | The news follows calls by protest leaders for people to leave the area, after thousands of police and soldiers moved to tighten a cordon overnight. |
Two people died in clashes involving demonstrators and residents on Monday. | Two people died in clashes involving demonstrators and residents on Monday. |
Red-shirted protesters are demanding the resignation of PM Abhisit Vejjajiva - but he has refused and has urged them to go home. | Red-shirted protesters are demanding the resignation of PM Abhisit Vejjajiva - but he has refused and has urged them to go home. |
On Tuesday, large groups of activists walked away from their encampment outside the main government offices. | On Tuesday, large groups of activists walked away from their encampment outside the main government offices. |
I'm sad that we've not received justice but if we'd have stayed we would have been in danger Kannika SaikaewProtester Giving up and going home | I'm sad that we've not received justice but if we'd have stayed we would have been in danger Kannika SaikaewProtester Giving up and going home |
They were searched for weapons as they left, and the security service brought in 60 buses to transport them from the prime minister's office. | They were searched for weapons as they left, and the security service brought in 60 buses to transport them from the prime minister's office. |
Many of the protesters come from rural areas of Thailand. | Many of the protesters come from rural areas of Thailand. |
Several thousand had erected barricades following running battles with the army and the police on Monday, but their leaders called an end to the protest fearing further violence. | Several thousand had erected barricades following running battles with the army and the police on Monday, but their leaders called an end to the protest fearing further violence. |
Most of the leaders have now turned themselves over to authorities. | Most of the leaders have now turned themselves over to authorities. |
On Tuesday, protest leader Prateep Ungsongtham Hata told the AFP news agency: "We held talks among the leaders since last night and have agreed that we will disperse our protesters for a while." | On Tuesday, protest leader Prateep Ungsongtham Hata told the AFP news agency: "We held talks among the leaders since last night and have agreed that we will disperse our protesters for a while." |
Ms Prateep said the leaders wanted to prevent any loss of life, saying the protesters "really want to fight and sacrifice themselves so we wanted to prevent a catastrophe". | Ms Prateep said the leaders wanted to prevent any loss of life, saying the protesters "really want to fight and sacrifice themselves so we wanted to prevent a catastrophe". |
"We are not surrendering, we are just dispersing the gathering because we have done nothing wrong," she said. | "We are not surrendering, we are just dispersing the gathering because we have done nothing wrong," she said. |
Another protest leader, Jatuporn Pronpan, told Reuters: "We have to stop because we need to look after the lives of our supporters." | Another protest leader, Jatuporn Pronpan, told Reuters: "We have to stop because we need to look after the lives of our supporters." |
About 120 people were injured in Monday's clashes. The streets were littered with the burnt wreckage of buses and other barricades. | About 120 people were injured in Monday's clashes. The streets were littered with the burnt wreckage of buses and other barricades. |
Protester Kannika Saikaew, 37, said: "I'm sad that we've not received justice but if we'd have stayed we would have been in danger." | Protester Kannika Saikaew, 37, said: "I'm sad that we've not received justice but if we'd have stayed we would have been in danger." |
After a weekend in which the prime minister's authority all but collapsed, PM Abhisit has now been able to reassert his control, says BBC correspondent Jonathan Head in Bangkok. | After a weekend in which the prime minister's authority all but collapsed, PM Abhisit has now been able to reassert his control, says BBC correspondent Jonathan Head in Bangkok. |
But this remains a deeply divided society, with little consensus over who should govern it, he adds. | But this remains a deeply divided society, with little consensus over who should govern it, he adds. |
The red shirts have largely lost popular support after the violence and destruction of Monday, he says. | The red shirts have largely lost popular support after the violence and destruction of Monday, he says. |
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this incident, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. | The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. |