“Red shirts” wish to avoid confrontation with Thai army

The Thai army has made explicit its determination to use live ammunition against "red-shirt" anti-government protesters in certain circumstances. An army spokesman told a regular news briefing that troops were ready to use their weapons "decisively".

Photo: “Red shirts” wish to avoid confrontation with Thai army

The red-shirts later called off plans to march on the city's Silom business district, saying they wanted to avoid confrontation with the army, BBC News reports.

"We are not going to mobilize to anywhere because there are too many soldiers on the street," said Nattawut Saikua, a leader with the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD). "We are afraid we could lose position."

The Thai military has stationed about 1,500 troops along a Bangkok road amid anticipation of renewed clashes with the protesters who are demanding that the prime minister dissolve the government, hold new elections and leave the country, CNN International informs.