Time for healing says Thai premier

The country's prime minister has promised an independent inquiry into "all events" surrounding the anti-government protests, and called for reconciliation to heal deep political divisions that have led to widespread violence and 83 deaths in two months.

Abhisit Vejjajiva said in a nationally broadcast address on television: "Fellow citizens, we all live in the same house. Now, our house has been damaged. We have to help each other.

"We can certainly repair damaged infrastructure and buildings, but the important thing is to heal the emotional wounds and restore unity among the Thai people."

Mr Abhisit said authorities had restored order in Bangkok, where soldiers overran an encampment of Red Shirt protesters on Wednesday after a week of street fighting. That crackdown triggered widespread arson attacks in central Bangkok.