Thailand hit by political crisis as protesters demand election

They later set another deadline and threatened to pour a million cubic centimetres of blood drawn from their ranks at Government House, the seat of government, if their renewed demand was rejected.

"The blood will be taken from the body and democratic soul of the Red Shirts," said a protest leader, Nutthawut Saikua, referring to the popular name for the protesters.

In the first reported violence of the protests, two soldiers were wounded when four grenades exploded inside an army headquarters ringed by the demonstrators.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the key target of the massive demonstration, earlier said he could not give in to the protesters' demand to dissolve Parliament by midday.

The demonstrators marshalled around the heavily defended 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters where Mr Abhisit has been based, but after the deadline passed they began a march back to their main encampment.

"Asking for the dissolution of Parliament before noon in exchange for a halt to the demonstrations, we all agreed it can't be done. However, it doesn't mean the government coalition parties and I won't listen to their ideas," Mr Abhisit said.

Around 100,000 Red Shirt protesters have been camped out along a boulevard in the old part of Bangkok. A force of more than 50,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel has been mobilised in the capital area.

"Our goal is not to remain entrenched in the government. Like all Thais, we'd like to see the country move forward," Mr Abhisit said. "The government must listen to the demonstrators."

With banners waving, thousands of the protesters piled into trucks, rode motorbikes or went on foot toward the barbed-wire ringed regimental compound where soldiers played songs composed by the Thai king. They began to leave a few hours later.

The protesters, formally grouped as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, have been flexible in their tactics and deadlines, but are demanding Mr Abhisit dissolve Parliament and call new elections.

They believe that Mr Abhisit took office illegally with the help of the military and other parts of the traditional ruling class allied to the royal family, who were alarmed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's popularity among the poor.

Mr Thaksin, who became prime minister in 2001 and easily won two elections, was removed in a 2006 military coup.

Mr Thaksin spoke to the rally by video last night, urging the crowd to continue their struggle peacefully, and emphasising that he considered the so-called "ammart," or elite, the enemy.

Mr Thaksin is the billionaire former owner of Manchester City who fled Thailand in 2008 ahead of being convicted for a conflict of interest violation and sentenced to two years in jail.

He and his followers say the court charges, which alleged he abused his position to enrich his family, were politically motivated to discredit the opposition.