Thai troops hunt militants amid curfew

THAI troops hunted for militant protesters who left parts of Bangkok in flames as the authorities extended a night curfew in the capital despite tentative signs of a return to normality.

The top leader of the anti-government Red Shirt movement urged supporters to halt the mayhem that left major buildings smouldering and in ruins after a deadly Army crackdown ended a six-week rally in the retail heart of the city.

“Democracy cannot be built on revenge. Good things are built on non-violence,” Veera Musikapong said after surrendering to police along with other top leaders in the face of the military offensive that left 15 dead.