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Thailand protesters target army, ruling party headquarters | Thailand protesters target army, ruling party headquarters |
(35 minutes later) | |
Protesters in Thailand have forced their way into the army headquarters compound, as anti-government rallies went into a sixth day. | |
More protesters gathered outside ruling party headquarters, as part of efforts to force the government to step down. | More protesters gathered outside ruling party headquarters, as part of efforts to force the government to step down. |
On Thursday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra urged demonstrators to end the street protests, after surviving a no-confidence vote in parliament. | On Thursday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra urged demonstrators to end the street protests, after surviving a no-confidence vote in parliament. |
But protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has rejected her appeal. | But protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has rejected her appeal. |
"We will not let them work anymore," the former senior opposition lawmaker said in a speech late on Thursday. | "We will not let them work anymore," the former senior opposition lawmaker said in a speech late on Thursday. |
At least 1,000 protesters forced their way into the army headquarters compound by breaking open the gate. | |
Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the protesters were in the courtyard but not inside the buildings. | |
"We will make them understand that this is a security area and we will ask them to leave,'' he was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. | |
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, who is at the scene, said protesters were massed on a lawn outside the building listening to speeches from leaders on a stage they had erected. | |
They were urging the army to come out in support of the demonstrators, our correspondent said. | |
"We want to know which side the army stands on," Reuters news agency quoted one protester as saying. | "We want to know which side the army stands on," Reuters news agency quoted one protester as saying. |
Our correspondent described the atmosphere as good natured and said the authorities appeared keen to avoid confrontation. | |
Meanwhile security was tightened around the ruling Pheu Thai party headquarters, where more protesters had massed. | |
"We are deploying two companies of police [around 300 officers] at Pheu Thai party headquarters after they asked for protection," deputy national police chief Worapong Siewpreecha told AFP news agency. | "We are deploying two companies of police [around 300 officers] at Pheu Thai party headquarters after they asked for protection," deputy national police chief Worapong Siewpreecha told AFP news agency. |
'No political games' | 'No political games' |
Demonstrators have been surrounding and occupying official buildings this week in an attempt to disrupt the government. | |
During the demonstrations, which have been largely peaceful so far, participants have cut the electricity supply to the national police headquarters and forced the evacuation of Thailand's top crime-fighting agency. | During the demonstrations, which have been largely peaceful so far, participants have cut the electricity supply to the national police headquarters and forced the evacuation of Thailand's top crime-fighting agency. |
The protesters say Ms Yingluck's government is controlled by her brother, exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. | The protesters say Ms Yingluck's government is controlled by her brother, exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. |
Ms Yingluck has invoked special powers allowing curfews and road closures, and police have also ordered the arrest of Mr Suthep - 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 Mr Suthep - but so far no move has been made to detain him. |
In a televised address on Thursday, Ms Yingluck said the protesters should negotiate with the government. | In a televised address on Thursday, Ms Yingluck said the protesters should negotiate with the government. |
"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. |
An estimated 100,000 opposition supporters protested in Bangkok on Sunday, although the numbers appear to have dropped significantly during the week. | An estimated 100,000 opposition supporters protested in Bangkok on Sunday, although the numbers appear to have dropped significantly during the week. |
Some reports expect turnout to rise again over the weekend. | Some reports expect turnout to rise again over the weekend. |
The country is facing its largest protests since 2010, when 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. | The country is facing its largest protests since 2010, when 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. |
The proposed passage of a controversial political amnesty bill, which critics said would have facilitated the return of Thaksin without having to serve jail, reignited simmering political tensions. | |
The Senate rejected the bill, which sought to cover offences committed during the upheaval after Thaksin was removed from office. |