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Thailand protests: Police remove barricades at HQ Thailand protests: Police remove barricades at HQ
(35 minutes later)
Thai police have removed barriers around their headquarters, after protesters said they were targeting the police building.Thai police have removed barriers around their headquarters, after protesters said they were targeting the police building.
The move to defuse tensions came as anti-government protests continued in Bangkok for a tenth day. The move to defuse tensions came as anti-government protests in Bangkok entered their tenth day.
Four people have died in Thailand's worst political turmoil since the 2010 rallies that ended in violence. The mood in the capital now appears calmer, with fewer clashes between rioters and police, correspondents say.
The Thai prime minister has rejected protesters' demands that she step down, describing them as unconstitutional.The Thai prime minister has rejected protesters' demands that she step down, describing them as unconstitutional.
Yingluck Shinawatra said she was open to negotiations but that calls for the government to be replaced by an appointed council was illegal. Yingluck Shinawatra said she was open to negotiations but that calls for the government to be replaced by an appointed council were illegal.
The protests, which began on 24 November, had been largely peaceful until Saturday, when they became violent.The protests, which began on 24 November, had been largely peaceful until Saturday, when they became violent.
Over the weekend demonstrators tried to break apart police barricades and storm the prime minister's office, Government House, with police using tear gas and water cannon to repel them.Over the weekend demonstrators tried to break apart police barricades and storm the prime minister's office, Government House, with police using tear gas and water cannon to repel them.
Democratic countryDemocratic country
The demonstrators want to replace the government with an unelected "People's Council", alleging Ms Yingluck's government is controlled by her brother, ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said on Monday that the protesters would "take over the Metropolitan Police Bureau and make it the people's."
"Come and join the people to get rid of the Thaksin regime and we can work together to change Thailand into a pure and democratic country,'' the Associated Press quoted Mr Suthep as saying on Monday.
"We're going to gather all our forces and we're going to take over the Metropolitan Police Bureau and make it the people's."
On Tuesday morning - in a surprise and possibly shrewd move - the police took down barriers and razor wire outside their building and it was announced that the protestors were welcome inside, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from Bangkok.On Tuesday morning - in a surprise and possibly shrewd move - the police took down barriers and razor wire outside their building and it was announced that the protestors were welcome inside, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from Bangkok.
It appears that protesters are also being allowed through the barricades outside Government House.
The move is seen as an attempt to prevent further clashes.The move is seen as an attempt to prevent further clashes.
It is still unclear whether this is an isolated incident - or a new policy that will now be extended to other flashpoints across Bangkok, our correspondent adds. On Monday, skirmishes broke out at police barricades, with protesters throwing stones and homemade explosives, and security forces using tear gas and rubber bullets.
Four people have died in clashes since Saturday. It is Thailand's worst political turmoil since the 2010 rallies that ended in violence.
The demonstrators want to replace the government with an unelected "People's Council", alleging Ms Yingluck's government is controlled by her brother, ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
On Monday, a court issued a second warrant for the arrest of protest leader Mr Suthep on charges of insurrection.On Monday, a court issued a second warrant for the arrest of protest leader Mr Suthep on charges of insurrection.
The former opposition politician said on Sunday that Ms Yingluck should resign within the next "two days", but she has so far resisted.The former opposition politician said on Sunday that Ms Yingluck should resign within the next "two days", but she has so far resisted.
"Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do... but as prime minister, what I can do must be under the constitution," Ms Yingluck said in a televised address on Monday."Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do... but as prime minister, what I can do must be under the constitution," Ms Yingluck said in a televised address on Monday.
'Restrained''Restrained'
Ms Yingluck has said that she would not authorise the use of force against protesters.Ms Yingluck has said that she would not authorise the use of force against protesters.
"I believe that no-one wants to see a repeat of history, where we saw the people suffer and lose their lives,'' she said on Monday."I believe that no-one wants to see a repeat of history, where we saw the people suffer and lose their lives,'' she said on Monday.
More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died when thousands of red-shirt Thaksin supporters held a two-month sit-in in the centre of Bangkok in 2010.More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died when thousands of red-shirt Thaksin supporters held a two-month sit-in in the centre of Bangkok in 2010.
Ms Yingluck's brother, Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 that left the country bitterly divided.Ms Yingluck's brother, Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 that left the country bitterly divided.
Her government, which has broad support outside the capital, took office after winning elections in 2011.Her government, which has broad support outside the capital, took office after winning elections in 2011.
But the protesters allege that Mr Thaksin runs the government from overseas exile and accuse the current administration of using populist policies that are hurting Thailand's economy to remain in power.But the protesters allege that Mr Thaksin runs the government from overseas exile and accuse the current administration of using populist policies that are hurting Thailand's economy to remain in power.
On Monday, the US voiced regret over the deaths in the protests, and said it was monitoring the situation closely.On Monday, the US voiced regret over the deaths in the protests, and said it was monitoring the situation closely.
"Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are important aspects of democracy," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said."Peaceful protest and freedom of expression are important aspects of democracy," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
"Violence and seizure of public or private property, however, are not acceptable means of resolving political differences," she added."Violence and seizure of public or private property, however, are not acceptable means of resolving political differences," she added.
Meanwhile, in a statement, representatives of the EU in Thailand said they were saddened by the violence, and believed that "the response of the Thai authorities has so far been restrained and proportionate".Meanwhile, in a statement, representatives of the EU in Thailand said they were saddened by the violence, and believed that "the response of the Thai authorities has so far been restrained and proportionate".