Thai Protesters Besiege Government Headquarters | WPN World People News

Thousands of Thai protesters have surrounded government headquarters in the capital, Bangkok, in defiance of police who have vowed to reclaim sites protesters have occupied for weeks.

The protesters constructed cement walls on Monday to block the gates of Government House, where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has her offices. The prime minister has been forced to lead her caretaker government from various locations across the city.

Riot police began an operation Friday to clear areas of Bangkok where anti-government protesters have set up camp for weeks.

Baton-wielding, helmeted police removed tents and barriers belonging to the protesters, who were warned through loudspeakers not to resist.

Issara Somchai of the opposition People's Democratic Reform Committee suggested many protesters will not back down easily.

Authorities last month announced a state of emergency and have put out arrest warrants for many of the protest leaders.

Opposition protesters have said Yingluck is a puppet of her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, the exiled ex-prime minister who was accused of corruption and overthrown in a military coup in 2006.

Prime Minister Yingluck had hoped that early polls on February 2 would end the crisis, but the opposition boycotted the election, and disrupted it in several provinces.

Thailand's election commission said it will hold another round of polls in late April for areas where voting was unable to proceed. A specific date has not been announced.

Source: Voice of America