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| Blood protest against Thai leader | Blood protest against Thai leader |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Thailand's red-shirt demonstrators are donating blood to throw at government offices in a symbolic protest against a leadership they say is illegitimate. | Thailand's red-shirt demonstrators are donating blood to throw at government offices in a symbolic protest against a leadership they say is illegitimate. |
| The protests are now in their third day, in a jovial but determined mood. | The protests are now in their third day, in a jovial but determined mood. |
| Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday rejected a demand from protesters to quit and call elections. | Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday rejected a demand from protesters to quit and call elections. |
| The stand-off is the latest in a deep political schism in the country linked to the 2006 military coup which deposed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. | The stand-off is the latest in a deep political schism in the country linked to the 2006 military coup which deposed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. |
| Tens of thousands of security forces remain on stand-by and army leaders say they plan to be flexible and gentle with the demonstrators as their protests continue. | Tens of thousands of security forces remain on stand-by and army leaders say they plan to be flexible and gentle with the demonstrators as their protests continue. |
| AT THE SCENE Rachel Harvey, BBC News, Bangkok | |
| Long lines of red-shirted protesters waited patiently in the searing heat to give their blood. On the stage in front of them, Buddhist monks led prayers before handing the mikes back to the red-shirted leaders to continue their defiant speeches. | |
| A new deadline has been set for the government to step down. If by this evening the prime minister has not agreed to call fresh elections the collected blood will be splashed outside Government House. | |
| Three days into this demonstration there is no sign of either side backing down. The government seems to have decided to try to wait it out and hope the protesters eventually run out of steam. The red-shirt leaders say they are determined to keep up the pressure. This has become a test of wills and of stamina. In Thaksin's 'red-shirted' country | |
| Local newspapers have reported that protests were also being held in several northern provinces to coincide with the Bangkok actions. | Local newspapers have reported that protests were also being held in several northern provinces to coincide with the Bangkok actions. |
| In Bangkok, red-shirt leader Veera Musikapong was the first to donate. | In Bangkok, red-shirt leader Veera Musikapong was the first to donate. |
| "This blood is a sacrificial offering. To show our love for the nation, to show our sincerity," he said. | "This blood is a sacrificial offering. To show our love for the nation, to show our sincerity," he said. |
| He and other leaders said their blood would be spilled at the entrance to Government House in Bangkok's historic quarter later in the day if Mr Abhisit continued to refuse their demands to dissolve parliament. | He and other leaders said their blood would be spilled at the entrance to Government House in Bangkok's historic quarter later in the day if Mr Abhisit continued to refuse their demands to dissolve parliament. |
| "If Abhisit is still stubborn, even though he does not have blood on his hands, his feet will be bloodied with our curses," another leader, Nattawut Saikur, said. | "If Abhisit is still stubborn, even though he does not have blood on his hands, his feet will be bloodied with our curses," another leader, Nattawut Saikur, said. |
| Health officials, the Red Cross and even the protesters' figurehead, Mr Thaksin, have expressed concern about how hygienic the mass blood donation is. | Health officials, the Red Cross and even the protesters' figurehead, Mr Thaksin, have expressed concern about how hygienic the mass blood donation is. |
| But the protesters, including several monks, brushed off the concerns. | But the protesters, including several monks, brushed off the concerns. |
| "We have three tents for blood donations. All people who conduct the blood drawing will be doctors, nurses or other qualified people who came here voluntarily," said senior red shirt leader, Dr Weng Tojilakarn, who normally runs his own medical practice. | "We have three tents for blood donations. All people who conduct the blood drawing will be doctors, nurses or other qualified people who came here voluntarily," said senior red shirt leader, Dr Weng Tojilakarn, who normally runs his own medical practice. |
| 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 | |
| The red shirts have set a target of collecting 1,000 litres of blood, and say they will guard against any protester getting weak or dizzy in the heat. | The red shirts have set a target of collecting 1,000 litres of blood, and say they will guard against any protester getting weak or dizzy in the heat. |
| For its part, the government remains quiet on the sidelines. | For its part, the government remains quiet on the sidelines. |
| The government says it cannot disclose the location of Mr Abhisit for security reasons. | The government says it cannot disclose the location of Mr Abhisit for security reasons. |
| A cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday appears to have been cancelled, and calls from members of Mr Abhisit's coalition for a parliamentary hearing have been ignored. | A cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday appears to have been cancelled, and calls from members of Mr Abhisit's coalition for a parliamentary hearing have been ignored. |
| The rally, led by red-shirted supporters of Mr Thaksin has been one of the largest in recent years, although the BBC's Rachel Harvey, at the scene, says the numbers appear to be dwindling. | The rally, led by red-shirted supporters of Mr Thaksin has been one of the largest in recent years, although the BBC's Rachel Harvey, at the scene, says the numbers appear to be dwindling. |
| 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. |
| On Sunday they held a mass rally in central Bangkok. They are now camped out around Government House. | On Sunday they held a mass rally in central Bangkok. They are now camped out around Government House. |
| 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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