This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25149480

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
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, as anti-government rallies entered a sixth day. 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 the army headquarters in Bangkok, "protesters slammed opened the gate and are now in the army headquarters", a military spokeswoman was quoted by Agence-France Presse news agency as saying. At least 1,000 protesters forced their way into the army headquarters compound by breaking open the gate.
She added that the army chief was not in his office at the time. 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.
Meanwhile security was tightened around the ruling Pheu Thai party headquarters. 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 briefly occupying official buildings this week in an attempt to disrupt the government. 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.