Protesters break through police line in Thailand
Tens of thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra marched to the Thai leader’s office today after a boisterous rally accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.
The main body of demonstrators were earlier stopped by a police line, but protest leaders negotiated with the authorities and won permission for them to continue their march to Government House.
Police initially stopped the marchers near Democracy Monument – the site of bloody pro-democracy demonstrations in 1973, 1976 and 1992 – and said they would not let any demonstrators pass.
Buy shortly before 11pm (4pm Irish time), some demonstrators broke through the police line.
A large number of police were rushed to guard the perimeter of Government House. Thaksin is believed to be out of town, having gone earlier today to north-eastern Thailand.
Though some demonstrators scuffled with police, no major violence was immediately reported.
