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| Thai PM appeals to protesters after surviving no-confidence vote | Thai PM appeals to protesters after surviving no-confidence vote |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged anti-government demonstrators to end street protests, after surviving a no-confidence vote in parliament. | Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged anti-government demonstrators to end street protests, after surviving a no-confidence vote in parliament. |
| Speaking on television, Ms Yingluck said the rallies could hurt the economy and talks were needed. | Speaking on television, Ms Yingluck said the rallies could hurt the economy and talks were needed. |
| Her government is facing the biggest demonstrations to hit Thailand since the violence of 2010. | Her government is facing the biggest demonstrations to hit Thailand since the violence of 2010. |
| UN chief Ban Ki-moon has voiced concern over the tensions and called for all sides to exercise restraint. | UN chief Ban Ki-moon has voiced concern over the tensions and called for all sides to exercise restraint. |
| Protests began in Bangkok on Sunday. Since then, demonstrators calling on the government to step down have marched on ministries and government bodies in an attempt to shut them down. | Protests began in Bangkok on Sunday. Since then, demonstrators calling on the government to step down have marched on ministries and government bodies in an attempt to shut them down. |
| In the latest disruption, the protesters cut the electricity supply to the national police headquarters. | In the latest disruption, the protesters cut the electricity supply to the national police headquarters. |
| The demonstrators, who are led by a former opposition party lawmaker, say Ms Yingluck's government is controlled by her brother - the ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. | The demonstrators, who are led by a former opposition party lawmaker, say Ms Yingluck's government is controlled by her brother - the ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. |
| Ms Yingluck has invoked special powers allowing curfews and road closures, and police have also ordered the arrest of the protest leader - but so far no move has been made to detain him. | Ms Yingluck has invoked special powers allowing curfews and road closures, and police have also ordered the arrest of the protest leader - but so far no move has been made to detain him. |
| The protests have been largely peaceful and correspondents have described the mood of the rallies as friendly. | The protests have been largely peaceful and correspondents have described the mood of the rallies as friendly. |
| On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters surrounded Thailand's top crime-fighting agency, forcing its evacuation. | On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters surrounded Thailand's top crime-fighting agency, forcing its evacuation. |
| The UN leader Ban Ki-moon has urged all sides to "refrain from the use of violence and to show full respect for the rule of law and human rights". | The UN leader Ban Ki-moon has urged all sides to "refrain from the use of violence and to show full respect for the rule of law and human rights". |
| 'Show independence' | 'Show independence' |
| The no-confidence motion was brought by the opposition Democrat Party, but Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party dominate the chamber and voted it down by 297 votes to 134 votes. | The no-confidence motion was brought by the opposition Democrat Party, but Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party dominate the chamber and voted it down by 297 votes to 134 votes. |
| Speaking on television shortly afterwards, Ms Yingluck said the two sides should negotiate. | Speaking on television shortly afterwards, Ms Yingluck said the two sides should negotiate. |
| "The government doesn't want to enter into any political games because we believe it will cause the economy to deteriorate," she said. | "The government doesn't want to enter into any political games because we believe it will cause the economy to deteriorate," she said. |
| It is not clear what the protesters will do next, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports. | It is not clear what the protesters will do next, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports. |
| So far they have succeeded only in disrupting the business of government for a few days, and the authorities have been careful not to risk violence by confronting them, our correspondent adds. | So far they have succeeded only in disrupting the business of government for a few days, and the authorities have been careful not to risk violence by confronting them, our correspondent adds. |
| Earlier, Thai Education Minister Chaturon Chaiseng told our correspondent that the Pheu Thai party would have to find a balance and demonstrate it was not controlled by Mr Thaksin. | Earlier, Thai Education Minister Chaturon Chaiseng told our correspondent that the Pheu Thai party would have to find a balance and demonstrate it was not controlled by Mr Thaksin. |
| "They will need to make it clear that whoever is going to be prime minister can show that they have independence and can make a decision on their own," he said. | "They will need to make it clear that whoever is going to be prime minister can show that they have independence and can make a decision on their own," he said. |
| "The fact that some people do not believe in the government or the coalition parties anymore doesn't mean they can either overthrow the government or change the system," he added. | "The fact that some people do not believe in the government or the coalition parties anymore doesn't mean they can either overthrow the government or change the system," he added. |
| Mr Chaturon said that he did not believe a coup was imminent, although he added that "in my experience a coup can take place any time". | Mr Chaturon said that he did not believe a coup was imminent, although he added that "in my experience a coup can take place any time". |
| Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 that left the country bitterly divided. | Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 that left the country bitterly divided. |
| In 2010, thousands of "red-shirt" Thaksin supporters occupied key parts of the capital. More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died over the course of the two-month sit-in. | In 2010, thousands of "red-shirt" Thaksin supporters occupied key parts of the capital. More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died over the course of the two-month sit-in. |
| Ms Yingluck and the Pheu Thai Party were subsequently voted into office, and Thailand's political landscape has remained largely stable since then. | Ms Yingluck and the Pheu Thai Party were subsequently voted into office, and Thailand's political landscape has remained largely stable since then. |
| But a now-shelved political amnesty bill that critics said would have facilitated the return of Mr Thaksin without having to serve a jail term reignited simmering political tensions. | But a now-shelved political amnesty bill that critics said would have facilitated the return of Mr Thaksin without having to serve a jail term reignited simmering political tensions. |