Thai anti-government activists cancelled plans to stage protests at nearly a dozen no-go zones across Bangkok today but continued their siege of the capital's upmarket shopping and hotel district.
The protesters, who are demanding new elections, called off the proposed parade through the city after thousands of riot police and soldiers came out to block them, saying they wanted to avoid clashes.
After some brief pushing and shoving between police and the red-shirted supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the plan was scrapped. Some protesters cheered, others smiled and hugged police officers.
However, police made no attempt to remove the tens of thousands of protesters from the major intersection in the Rachaprasong shopping and hotel district which they have occupied since Saturday.
"There won't be any movements today," Kwanchai Praiphana, a protest leader, told the crowd. "If there is a crackdown, we will send over our people to the Democrat party", he said, referring to the party of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The army moved swiftly to dismiss talk that the protesters would be forcibly moved.
"The rally is illegal, but there will be no crackdown. We will review our measures," army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said in an national televised address.
The plan to move out in a convoy of motorcycles and pickup trucks on today's public holiday came as pressure mounted on Abhisit Vejjajiva to take action and put a swift end to the 25-day protest campaign.
Reuters