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BANGKOK : Thailand's embattled prime minister vowed Thursday to end massive rallies against his rule without force -- raising the spectre of a prolonged siege of Bangkok's main government compound.
More than 10,000 protesters barricaded themselves in at Government House for a third day and formed human shields to protect their leaders from arrest in an effort to cripple Samak Sundaravej's administration and force him from office.
The prime minister, who has pledged to stay in power, said police would not storm the compound but authorities would instead wait for the demonstrators to give themselves up in an effort to avoid bloodshed.
"Foreign countries are monitoring and keeping a close watch and waiting for a showdown," Samak told reporters.
"There will be no showdown."
He said the siege of his main headquarters would not be allowed to drag on forever, but threw the ball into the court of the protest leaders .
"Whenever it ends, it ends -- it's up to them," he said. "I assign police to do this task without forcibly dispersing the rally."
Thai courts have ordered protesters to clear out of Government House immediately and issued arrest warrants for nine of the protest leaders, but the anti-Samak alliance remained defiant.
Somsak Kosaisuk, a union leader and protest organiser, said their lawyers would appeal the court order forcing their dispersal.
Chamlong Srimuang, a 73-year-old retired general and key protest leader, vowed not to budge and said organisers would call on more people to join them.
"We still maintain our goals. One: all parties have to commit that they will not amend the constitution at all. Two: the government has to quit," he told reporters at the makeshift protest camp of tents and umbrellas.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) -- which despite its name is trying to bring down Samak's elected government -- began its campaign at the end of May, just over three months after the coalition government was formed.
PAD leaders say Samak is a mere figurehead running the country on behalf of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, is barred from holding office and now lives in exile in Britain.
PAD protests helped lead to the putsch that unseated Thaksin, and the entry to government of his ally Samak has infuriated the country's old power elites in the military and palace.
They also object to Samak's plans to amend a constitution that was drafted and approved under military rule following the coup.
The current crisis began early Tuesday when up to 35,000 anti-government demonstrators stormed a state-run TV station and surrounded at least three ministries before finally invading the grounds of Government House.
Rumours spread overnight that the thousands of police massed in and around the government compound were preparing to enter and force the demonstrators out, but the tense moments passed without incident.
"At this moment there are more than 10,000 protesters inside," deputy government spokesman Nuttawut Saikua told AFP.
Police Colonel Somsak Wongchaiprasert said that about 1,050 police -- some armed with shields and batons -- remained inside the government compound, but they kept their distance from protesters and appeared relaxed.
A Thai court on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for nine people, including the five PAD leaders, on charges including treason -- which carries the death penalty -- and illegal assembly.
Nuttawut said that police planned to peacefully escort a court official into the Government House compound to deliver the warrants.
A poll Wednesday showed that the majority of Bangkok residents were fed up with the antics of the group of protesters claiming loyalty to the revered monarchy, while the local press has praised Samak's handling of the crisis.
- AFP/ir
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