Thai capital braces for more protests

A "Red Shirts" guard is pictured in central Bangkok, on April 9. Thai capital was braced for more protests as anti-government Red Shirts vowed to defy a state of emergency and again take to the streets.

9/04/2010
AFP

Bangkok was braced for more protests Friday as Thailand's "Red Shirt" protesters defied a state of emergency, vowing to mount another major rally in a bid to topple the government.

Thai authorities moved Thursday to arrest Red Shirt protest leaders involved in the storming of parliament this week and also pulled the plug on dozens of websites and a television station loyal to their cause.

But the authorities have so far avoided using force to break up the rallies, which have drawn tens of thousands of people, highlighting Thailand's deep rift pitting Bangkok's ruling elite against the mainly poor and rural Reds.

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