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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Thailand lifts Bangkok emergency | Thailand lifts Bangkok emergency |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has lifted a two-week-old state of emergency in and around the country's capital, Bangkok. | Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has lifted a two-week-old state of emergency in and around the country's capital, Bangkok. |
| The rules were put in place when violent anti-government protests forced the cancellation of a major regional summit in the south of the country. | The rules were put in place when violent anti-government protests forced the cancellation of a major regional summit in the south of the country. |
| Two people died and more than 100 were injured in clashes two weeks ago, which brought the capital to a standstill. | Two people died and more than 100 were injured in clashes two weeks ago, which brought the capital to a standstill. |
| The red-shirted protesters were calling for Mr Abhisit to stand down. | The red-shirted protesters were calling for Mr Abhisit to stand down. |
| Large numbers of protestors had defied the state of emergency, blocking roads, disrupting traffic and clashing with police and local residents. | Large numbers of protestors had defied the state of emergency, blocking roads, disrupting traffic and clashing with police and local residents. |
| The government wants reconciliation and to make the country move forwards Abhisit Vejjajiva Thailand's reds and yellows Q&A: Thailand's protests | |
| Speaking at a special parliamentary session early on Friday, Mr Abhisit said: "Today, the government will lift the emergency decree in Bangkok and surrounding areas." | Speaking at a special parliamentary session early on Friday, Mr Abhisit said: "Today, the government will lift the emergency decree in Bangkok and surrounding areas." |
| He said doing so was "part of measures to find a solution for the country" and to help find reconciliation between the yellow-shirted pro-government supporters and their red-shirted rivals. | He said doing so was "part of measures to find a solution for the country" and to help find reconciliation between the yellow-shirted pro-government supporters and their red-shirted rivals. |
| "The government wants to show its sincerity, that the government wants reconciliation and to make the country move forwards," said Mr Abhisit. | "The government wants to show its sincerity, that the government wants reconciliation and to make the country move forwards," said Mr Abhisit. |
| Little change? | |
| The BBC's correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head, says that aside from soldiers guarding a few strategic points in the capital most inhabitants would have noticed little change during emergency rule. | |
| However, he says, the government has used the additional powers it was given to contain the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protest movement. | |
| Three of its top leaders have been detained and refused bail, a television station supporting the UDD has been shut down, as have several sympathetic radio stations outside Bangkok. | |
| Our correspondent also notes that a two-day parliamentary debate which has just ended, appeared only to highlight how divided the country still is. | |
| He says that far from discussing reconciliation, the two sides instead spent the debate traded heated exchanges over who was the blame for last weeks' violent clashes. | |
| New tactics | New tactics |
| The anti-government UDD protesters say Mr Abhisit's government is illegitimate, and are calling for fresh elections. | |
| The red shirts are demanding that fresh elections are held | The red shirts are demanding that fresh elections are held |
| Many of them also want to see the return to Thai politics of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted in a military coup in 2006. | Many of them also want to see the return to Thai politics of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted in a military coup in 2006. |
| The red shirts began their three-week protest in March, with a sit-in at government buildings. | The red shirts began their three-week protest in March, with a sit-in at government buildings. |
| But the demonstrations escalated and there were violent scenes on the streets of Bangkok in which more than 100 people were injured and two people died. | But the demonstrations escalated and there were violent scenes on the streets of Bangkok in which more than 100 people were injured and two people died. |
| Mr Abhisit was forced to cancel a summit of leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), scheduled to be held in the coastal resort of Pattaya, after protesters broke into the venue. | Mr Abhisit was forced to cancel a summit of leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), scheduled to be held in the coastal resort of Pattaya, after protesters broke into the venue. |
| Several national leaders had to be airlifted from the area. | Several national leaders had to be airlifted from the area. |
| The protest leaders ended the demonstrations on 14 April after thousands of troops were moved into the area. | The protest leaders ended the demonstrations on 14 April after thousands of troops were moved into the area. |
| The UDD said they wanted to avoid casualties but vowed that their campaign would continue. | The UDD said they wanted to avoid casualties but vowed that their campaign would continue. |
| Three days later, a prominent leader of the pro-government yellow shirts, Sondhi Limthongkul, was shot and injured in an apparent assassination attempt. | Three days later, a prominent leader of the pro-government yellow shirts, Sondhi Limthongkul, was shot and injured in an apparent assassination attempt. |
| Three UDD leaders are being held in custody after the protests, but on Tuesday another leader, speaking to the BBC from hiding, said the movement would now change its tactics. | Three UDD leaders are being held in custody after the protests, but on Tuesday another leader, speaking to the BBC from hiding, said the movement would now change its tactics. |
| Jakrapob Penkair said the UDD would consider possible armed attacks. | Jakrapob Penkair said the UDD would consider possible armed attacks. |