Thai Army Battles Protesters

Thaksin supporters end standoff as troops move in

(NEWSER) - Anti-government protesters have begun to disperse in Bangkok following orders from their leaders, the BBC reports. Thousands of protesters have ended their 3-week siege of the country's seat of government and some protest leaders have surrendered to authorities. After two deaths yesterday, leaders say they urged their followers to leave the area because they feared further bloodshed as troops moved in. More»

(NEWSER) - Anti-government protesters ignored Thailand’s state of emergency by the thousands today while former PM Thaksin Shinawatra called on them “to come out in revolution,” the New York Times reports. In defiance of a ban on gatherings of more than five people in Bangkok, demonstrators rallied outside the current prime minister’s home, attacked his car, and erected barricades in case of military intervention. More»

Thaksin supporters force parliament to suspend proceedings

(NEWSER) - A different set of anti-government protesters converged on Bankok today, with thousands of red-shirted supporters of exiled PM Thaksin Shinawatra surrounding parliament and forcing lawmakers to postpone their session. The yellow-clad Thaksin opposition had been set to take power after months of demonstrations, reports the New York Times. More»

PM backs out as protesters threaten government

(NEWSER) - Thailand's prime minister has canceled an appearance at the annual Southeast Asia summit as rioters threaten to topple his government. Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency yesterday hours after anti-government protesters stormed the country's parliament in Bangkok. The decree bans spreading information that threatens national security and allows authorities to arrest, detain and search people without court order, CNN notes. More»

Red-shirts plan 'blood curse' after election refusal

(NEWSER) - The streets of Bangkok will run red with blood today if things go as planned for anti-government Thai protesters. Volunteers are lining up to help the movement reach its goal of collecting 1,000 liters of blood, which red-shirted protesters plan to hurl at government offices to curse the country's leadership, who have rejected demand for new elections. More»