Thai protesters hurl blood at PM’s residence

Dwindling hordes of protesters fanned across Bangkok , hurling blood at the prime minister's residence and crowding outside Western embassies in what seemed a futile bid to force snap elections, reports from the Thailand capital said.

The government has stood firm against demands for its resignation pressed by the so-called Red Shirts, loyal to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who have been based at a rally ground in the Thai capital since the weekend.

Police said 38,000 protesters remained on Wednesday evening at the site in the city's government quarter, down from more than 100,000 at Sunday's peak, as many returned to their homes in the kingdom's rural provinces.

But the rally still paralyzed streets as most of the group left their base by truck, car and motorcycle for Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva's house, where a few threw bags of protesters' blood in a third display of crimson anger.

Government reaction to the symbolic blood protests has been muted, but a minister attached to the prime minister's office on Wednesday said it was "uncivilized".
From R. Vasudevan—Reporting from New Delhi
New Delhi, 18 March (Asiantribune.com)
Dwindling hordes of protesters fanned across Bangkok , hurling blood at the prime minister's residence and crowding outside Western embassies in what seemed a futile bid to force snap elections, reports from the Thailand capital said.

The government has stood firm against demands for its resignation pressed by the so-called Red Shirts, loyal to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who have been based at a rally ground in the Thai capital since the weekend.

Police said 38,000 protesters remained on Wednesday evening at the site in the city's government quarter, down from more than 100,000 at Sunday's peak, as many returned to their homes in the kingdom's rural provinces.

But the rally still paralyzed streets as most of the group left their base by truck, car and motorcycle for Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva's house, where a few threw bags of protesters' blood in a third display of crimson anger.

Government reaction to the symbolic blood protests has been muted, but a minister attached to the prime minister's office on Wednesday said it was "uncivilized".