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Thais spill blood at PM's house Thai blood protest at PM's house
(about 2 hours later)
Thai protesters and a stepped-up security presence have negotiated an end to a protest at the prime minister's house. Thai protesters have hurled plastic bags filled with gallons of their own blood in a symbolic protest at the prime minister's house in Bangkok.
A few of the red-shirt anti-government protesters were allowed to pour blood in a symbolic act at the home of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva. Security forces agreed to let a few of the red-shirted demonstrators spill the blood outside the compound of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva.
The government had said it was invoking the Internal Security Act to block the protest in a suburb of Bangkok. There had been fears of clashes with security forces on the fourth day of mass rallies to demand the PM resign.
The opposition are calling for fresh elections. The opposition, many of whom back ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, want fresh polls.
The protesters say they are now heading toward foreign embassies after reports that "foreign intelligence" had warned the government that the red-shirts could turn violent. The protesters say they are now heading toward foreign embassies after reports that "foreign intelligence" had warned the government the red-shirts could turn violent.
Both red-shirt leaders and government figures have insisted they are determined to keep the protests - now in their fourth day - peaceful. Clean up
The protesters say Mr Abhisit's government is illegitimate and should be dissolved. Both red-shirt leaders and government figures have insisted they are determined to keep the protests peaceful.
Confrontation fears
PM Abhisit has been staying at military barracks since the weekendPM Abhisit has been staying at military barracks since the weekend
Neither Mr Abhisit nor his family are at their home in Bangkok, and security is tight. The demonstrators say Mr Abhisit's government is illegitimate and should be dissolved.
The last-minute ratcheting up of police and troop presence at the prime minister's house had sparked fears of a confrontation, but once again a negotiated solution was found. Neither Mr Abhisit nor his family were at their home in the upmarket Bangkok suburb.
Mr Abhisit has been staying at the headquarters of the 11th Infantry Battalion in the north of Bangkok since the protests began. He has been staying at the headquarters of the 11th Infantry Battalion in the north of Bangkok since the protests began.
The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says the numbers are dwindling but the passion is undiminished, the demands as loud as ever. Police and troop reinforcements were drafted in at the last minute at the prime minister's house, sparking fears of a confrontation.
A senior police officer said he estimated numbers had dropped by 100,000 to 90,000 people by Tuesday evening. The government had said it would invoke the Internal Security Act to ban the protest, but once again a negotiated solution was found.
Reporters asked a protest leader, Veera Musikapong, what their next move would be, and he replied, "I want to know that myself," the Associated Press reported. Several dozen demonstrators were allowed through the police cordon carrying plastic bottles filled with blood, which was poured into small plastic bags and then thrown at the home.
He said the group maps strategy on a day-by-day basis. Government cleaners quickly went into action to mop up the blood on Tuesday, amid fears of infection.
Blood collection There was criticism that the blood spilling was wasting a resource which could have been used to help the sick.
On Tuesday, they poured human blood at the gates of Government House and, later, the headquarters of the Democrat Party. The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says the protesters' numbers are dwindling, but the passion is undiminished and the demands as loud as ever.
Earlier on Tuesday, many thousands of protesters had lined up to donate their blood. Donors queue
"The blood of the common people is mixing together to fight for democracy," said Natthawut Saikua, a red shirt leader. A senior police officer said he estimated numbers had dropped from 100,000 to 90,000 people by Tuesday evening.
Reporters asked a protest leader, Veera Musikapong, what their next move would be, and he replied: "I want to know that myself," the Associated Press reported.
He said the group mapped strategy on a day-by-day basis.
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 protestsPROTEST 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
Tens of thousands of security forces remain on standby and army leaders say they plan to be flexible and gentle with the demonstrators as their protests continue. On Tuesday, they poured human blood at the gates of Government House and, later, the headquarters of the Democrat Party.
Government cleaners quickly went into action to mop up the blood on Tuesday, amid fears of infection and some criticism that the blood spilling was wasting a resource which could have been used to help the sick. Many thousands of protesters had lined up to donate their blood.
On Monday, Mr Abhisit had rejected a demand from protesters to quit and call elections. "The blood of the common people is mixing together to fight for democracy," said Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader.
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 standby and army leaders say they plan to be flexible and gentle as the protests continue.
On Monday, Mr Abhisit 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.
A cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled, and a parliamentary hearing stopped for lack of a quorum.A cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled, and a parliamentary hearing stopped for lack of a quorum.
Both sides appeared to be making every effort to avoid confrontation.Both sides appeared to be making every effort to avoid confrontation.
The protest, led by red-shirted supporters of Mr Thaksin has been one of the largest in recent years.The protest, led by red-shirted supporters of Mr Thaksin has been one of the largest in recent years.
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.