The Thai government today extended for three months a state of emergency in the capital and 18 provinces in the wake of bloody, anti-government demonstrations which pushed the country close to chaos.

Amid tight security thousands of Red Shirt opposition supporters paid final respects today to the Thai renegade general assassinated at the height of last month’s anti-government protests.

Almost the entire core leadership of the Thai protesters who built barricades and battled with soldiers in central Bangkok was in custody following the surrender today of two top organisers, official media said.

Thailand will not hold elections as demanded by anti-government protesters until passions from more than two-months of political violence are calmed, a key minister said today.

Buildings smouldered across central Bangkok early today and troops exchanged sporadic fire with pockets of die-hards a day after the army routed anti-government protesters in a push to end Thailand’s deadliest political violence in nearly 20 years.

Central Bangkok became a battleground today as the army stormed a barricaded protest camp and the Red Shirt leadership surrendered, enraging demonstrators who fired grenades and started fires that cloaked the skyline in a black haze.

Thailand's government has demanded an end to the spiralling violence in Bangkok - but as yet neither side has laid down their arms.

A dentist looks down from his 20th-floor apartment and sees a body on the pavement, blood streaming from the head.

THAILAND’S government insisted a crackdown on Red Shirt protesters will continue despite their plea for UN-mediated talks to end four days of street clashes with troops that have killed 30 people.

Troops opened fire on Thai protesters in deadly clashes today as spiralling street violence threatened to plunge the country into chaos.

Troops fired on anti-government protesters rioting near foreign embassies in Bangkok today as an army push to clear the streets sparked bloody clashes.

Protesters in the Thai capital reinforced their encampment today as government efforts to blockade them overnight led to sporadic violence that killed one man and saw a high-profile Red Shirt military leader shot in the head.

Thailand’s army said today it would begin limiting supplies of water, food and electricity to protesters camped in central Bangkok in a bid to clear the streets by midnight.

Thailand’s prime minister pleaded today for an end to two months of street protests paralysing the capital and an acceptance of his reconciliation plan that was stalled by a fresh outbreak of violence.

Thai protesters said today they had accepted a deal to end the violent political crisis that has paralysed central Bangkok for nearly two months.

Thailand’s prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has today offered to hold a new election on November 14 if anti-government protesters accept his reconciliation plan and peace and stability is restored.

A Thai hospital had to evacuate hundreds of patients today after anti-government protesters stormed in to hunt for security forces they suspected were hiding inside.

Thailand’s Yellow Shirt activists today demanded military action against anti-government Red Shirt protesters.

A soldier wounded during a clash with anti-government protesters in Thailand today has died, becoming the 27th victim of the recent political conflict.

Thailand’s embattled prime minister appeared on television today but offered no initiatives to end the country’s weeks long, sometimes bloody, political crisis a day after rejecting a compromise proposal by protesters occupying central Bangkok.

AT LEAST three people were killed and dozens were injured in a series of explosions near a massive encampment of anti-government protesters in Bangkok yesterday.

Dozens of people were injured in a series of explosions near a massive encampment of anti-government protesters in Bangkok today.

Thai protesters today vowed to fortify their sprawling encampment in Bangkok’s upmarket hotel-and-shopping district before venturing out to “wage a big war” to topple the government.

Thai anti-government protesters cancelled a march today on a military camp where the prime minister has hidden during their month-old campaign to oust him.

Anti-government protesters dug into their encampments around Bangkok and rejected talk of negotiations today after a month-long stand-off escalated into clashes that killed 20 people in Thailand’s worst political violence in nearly two decades.

Thailand’s beleaguered prime minister vowed to restore peace in Bangkok tonight after clashes between anti-government protesters and troops left 11 people dead and more than 500 wounded.

Hospital official say at least five people were killed today in clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in the Thai capital, including a Japanese journalist.

Thai security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anti-government demonstrators today during a crackdown in the capital, Bangkok.

Large groups of soldiers and police in riot gear are massing near to two encampments of anti-government protesters in the Thai capital.

Emboldened Thai protesters vowed today to ratchet up pressure on the government after their first violent skirmish with soldiers eroded the prime minister’s credibility and exposed concerns about the army’s loyalty.

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators broke through police and military lines today to flood the streets around Bangkok’s business district and other areas of Thailand’s capital.

Tens of thousands of protesters riding motorcycles and crammed into trucks and cars rolled through the streets of the Thai capital today to rally residents to their “class war” against the government.

Red-shirted protesters hurled plastic bags filled with gallons of their own blood into the residential compound of the Thai prime minister today, hoping their shock tactics would bring down his government.