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| Thai PM rejects protest ultimatum | Thai PM rejects protest ultimatum |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has appeared on national television to reject a demand from demonstrators that he resign by midday and call elections. | Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has appeared on national television to reject a demand from demonstrators that he resign by midday and call elections. |
| As he spoke, tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside the army barracks where he was holed up. | As he spoke, tens of thousands of protesters gathered outside the army barracks where he was holed up. |
| The rally, led by red-shirt supporters of ousted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, was one of the largest in recent years. | The rally, led by red-shirt supporters of ousted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, was one of the largest in recent years. |
| The protests have been peaceful but two soldiers were hurt when grenades exploded inside another army base. | The protests have been peaceful but two soldiers were hurt when grenades exploded inside another army base. |
| AT THE SCENE Rachel Harvey, BBC News, Bangkok | AT THE SCENE Rachel Harvey, BBC News, Bangkok |
| The protests are very good natured still - there is no sign of violence and the red-shirts say they have no plans to try to storm the barracks. The security forces on the other side of the razor wire have been using loudhailers to appeal for calm, telling the protesters "We're your friends, we don't have any weapons", so both sides have got quite a good banter going on. | The protests are very good natured still - there is no sign of violence and the red-shirts say they have no plans to try to storm the barracks. The security forces on the other side of the razor wire have been using loudhailers to appeal for calm, telling the protesters "We're your friends, we don't have any weapons", so both sides have got quite a good banter going on. |
| But there's no sign of any compromise. The government says that it is not going to give in to any ultimatums or respond to any deadlines, although it does understand the grievances of the protesters and it respects their right to protest. This is now a test of wills and a test of patience. In Thaksin's 'red-shirted' country | But there's no sign of any compromise. The government says that it is not going to give in to any ultimatums or respond to any deadlines, although it does understand the grievances of the protesters and it respects their right to protest. This is now a test of wills and a test of patience. In Thaksin's 'red-shirted' country |
| An army spokesman said the grenades appeared to have been fired into the compound, but said it was not clear who was responsible. | An army spokesman said the grenades appeared to have been fired into the compound, but said it was not clear who was responsible. |
| Early in the day, crowds of demonstrators gathered outside the headquarters of the 11th Infantry Battalion barracks in the north of the Thai capital. | |
| The protesters have now begun returning from the barracks to their base camp around Government House. Red-shirt leaders said they would meet to discuss their next move. | |
| Some 50,000 soldiers and police have been deployed in Bangkok, and several thousand extra soldiers were sent to the barracks to reinforce security. | Some 50,000 soldiers and police have been deployed in Bangkok, and several thousand extra soldiers were sent to the barracks to reinforce security. |
| Flanked by ministers and coalition allies, Mr Abhisit appeared on national television as the protesters' deadline for him to step down passed. | Flanked by ministers and coalition allies, Mr Abhisit appeared on national television as the protesters' deadline for him to step down passed. |
| FROM GLOBAL VOICES To me, the most interesting thing to observe were the ordinary Thais - vendors, people coming out of their shops, and people streaming from smaller sub-sois [streets] to watch - who were not wearing red, but were cheering as well. Bangkok Pundit Read more views by Thai bloggers on Global Voices What is this? | FROM GLOBAL VOICES To me, the most interesting thing to observe were the ordinary Thais - vendors, people coming out of their shops, and people streaming from smaller sub-sois [streets] to watch - who were not wearing red, but were cheering as well. Bangkok Pundit Read more views by Thai bloggers on Global Voices What is this? |
| "The protesters have demanded that I dissolve the house before midday (0500 GMT) today, but the coalition parties agree the demand cannot be met," he said. | "The protesters have demanded that I dissolve the house before midday (0500 GMT) today, but the coalition parties agree the demand cannot be met," he said. |
| "Elections must be held under common rules and genuine calm. We have to listen to other people's voices, not just the protesters." | "Elections must be held under common rules and genuine calm. We have to listen to other people's voices, not just the protesters." |
| Mr Abhisit then left the army base by helicopter, saying he wanted to inspect the traffic. The BBC's Rachel Harvey, who is outside the barracks, says it is not clear where he is now. | Mr Abhisit then left the army base by helicopter, saying he wanted to inspect the traffic. The BBC's Rachel Harvey, who is outside the barracks, says it is not clear where he is now. |
| The protest has been peaceful and good-humoured, our reporter adds, but there is no sign of compromise from either side. | The protest has been peaceful and good-humoured, our reporter adds, but there is no sign of compromise from either side. |
| Mr Abhisit is usually based at Government House, but he moved into the barracks as a precaution ahead of the protests. | Mr Abhisit is usually based at Government House, but he moved into the barracks as a precaution ahead of the protests. |
| About 100,000 of the demonstrators held rallies in Bangkok on Sunday. | About 100,000 of the demonstrators held rallies in Bangkok on Sunday. |
| PROTEST TIMELINE 2006: Yellow-shirts launch street protests to oust PM Thaksin ShinawatraSept 2006: Thaksin ousted in military coupDec 2007: Thaksin allies win first post-coup electionsSept 2008: Yellow-shirts occupy Bangkok government buildings, clash with pro-Thaksin red-shirtsNov 2008: Yellow-shirts occupy Bangkok's airports, forcing cancellation of hundreds of flightsDec 2008: Thaksin-allied government falls, rival Abhisit Vejjajiva forms governmentApr 2009: Red-shirts storm Asean summit, clashes erupt in BangkokMar 2010: Red-shirts launch protest aimed at bringing government down Profile: Thailand's reds and yellows Q&A: Thailand protests In pictures: Bangkok protests | PROTEST TIMELINE 2006: Yellow-shirts launch street protests to oust PM Thaksin ShinawatraSept 2006: Thaksin ousted in military coupDec 2007: Thaksin allies win first post-coup electionsSept 2008: Yellow-shirts occupy Bangkok government buildings, clash with pro-Thaksin red-shirtsNov 2008: Yellow-shirts occupy Bangkok's airports, forcing cancellation of hundreds of flightsDec 2008: Thaksin-allied government falls, rival Abhisit Vejjajiva forms governmentApr 2009: Red-shirts storm Asean summit, clashes erupt in BangkokMar 2010: Red-shirts launch protest aimed at bringing government down Profile: Thailand's reds and yellows Q&A: Thailand protests In pictures: Bangkok protests |
| Political speeches culminated in a video address by Mr Thaksin, who told the crowd they were bringing democracy to Thailand. | Political speeches culminated in a video address by Mr Thaksin, who told the crowd they were bringing democracy to Thailand. |
| Mr Thaksin is living in self-imposed overseas exile after receiving a two-year sentence in absentia for abuse of power; his supporters say that case was politically motivated. | Mr Thaksin is living in self-imposed overseas exile after receiving a two-year sentence in absentia for abuse of power; his supporters say that case was politically motivated. |
| The protesters say the present government was installed illegally after Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006, and two subsequent allied governments were deposed by court action. | The protesters say the present government was installed illegally after Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006, and two subsequent allied governments were deposed by court action. |
| The red-shirt protest leaders insist their movement is non-violent. | The red-shirt protest leaders insist their movement is non-violent. |
| They say they are prepared to stay in the capital for five days, to pressure the government into calling new elections. | They say they are prepared to stay in the capital for five days, to pressure the government into calling new elections. |
| The military has been given extra powers to impose curfews and restrict numbers at gatherings if necessary. | The military has been given extra powers to impose curfews and restrict numbers at gatherings if necessary. |
| The last major protests, in April 2009, turned violent, with two deaths and dozens of people injured. | The last major protests, in April 2009, turned violent, with two deaths and dozens of people injured. |
| Are you in Thailand? What do you think of the protests? Send us your comments: | Are you in Thailand? What do you think of the protests? Send us your comments: |
| Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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