Thai 'red-shirts' leaders announce end of rally
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Thailand's red-shirts leaders Wendesday noon announced the end to their two-month-plus rally in Bangkok after the troops carried out dispersal operation early morning.
However, violence and attacks are raging across the capital city with thick smoke billowing over the city and blasts reported.
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A bomb exploded in Sarasin intersection few minutes ago, near the red-shirts main rally site Ratchaprasong, and injured at least five soldiers there.
Men in black threw fire bottles at the Central World, right at the Ratchaprasong intersection, and set the first floor of the shopping center on fire. And according to ASTV, another fire was set at the compound of shopping complex Siam Paragon. By 14:45 the fires at both compounds have been taken under control.
Media facilities, including Thai TV Channel 3 and the Bangkok Post, have also become the targets of protesters' attacks.
Hundreds of red-shirts rallied in front of the office building of Thai TV Channel 3 and shattered some windows.
All staff members were ordered to leave the Bangkok Post building in Klong Toey shortly before 3:00 p.m. as "red-shirts" gathered nearby at five-ways and advanced down Na Ranong Road towards the Post building about 200 meters away.
Nation Multimedia Group also told its staff to leave the office at 3:15 p.m. following reports that angry protesters were heading to attack its office.
A spokesman of the Center for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) has announced that operations to besiege the rally site have been halted.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon said a curfew is to be imposed across Bangkok on Wednesday night.
Speaking at the central stage of Ratchaprasong at 1:30 p.m., Natthawut Saikua, on behalf of all the "red-shirts" leaders at site, said after well consideration by the leaders, they decided to call an end to the rally to avoid further loss of lives.
Nattawut called today as another day that they have to make a difficult decision. He announced an end to the gathering right now but said the fight of red-shirts will continue.
The leader asked the protesters to leave the gathering site of Ratchaprasong and to head to National Stadium. He said the red- shirts guards will ensure everyone go back home safely.
Nattawut also said the leaders will go to the National Police Office to surrender.
Gunshot were heard clearly and loudly through live TV broadcast as Nutthawut made the announcement flanked with other leaders. Some leaders left the stage quickly though it was not clear whether anybody under the stage was hurt.
Soon after leaving the stage, five red-shirts leaders including Nattawut and Jatuporn Promphan arrived the National Police Office and turned themselves in to Deputy Natl Police Chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew.
Local media The Nation reported that Arisman Pongruengrong, a " red-shirts" core leader, was caught Wednesday afternoon, hours after he fled the rally site Ratchaprasong in Bangkok,
Arisman Pongruengrong changed his clothes before he managed to sneak his way out from Ratchaprasong at about 10:20 a.m., as the troops were pushing forward to disperse the protesters there.
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