Thai soldiers aim at men arrested during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six. (Patrick de Noirmont)
Thai soldiers aim at men and women arrested during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six. (Patrick de Noirmont)
The body of a man lies in a street during a military operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six.
Thai soldiers stand outside a bank in front of the portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, in the business district of Bangkok, Monday, April 19, 2010. Thai troops armed with assault rifles have moved to block Bangkok's prime business district not far from thousands of anti-government protesters. The government already declared Silom Road, often called Bangkok's Wall Street, off-limits to the protesters who have occupied the main shopping district nearby for weeks.
"Red Shirts" protesters erect barricades made of tires and bamboos in Bangkok, Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Thai soldiers threw a security cordon around Bangkok's business district after demonstrators demanding early elections threatened to march into the area, raising fears of a bloody crackdown.
Anti-government demonstrators take to the streets outside one of Bangkok's main shopping malls, Saturday, April 3, 2010. Thousand of "Red Shirts" ignore a government deadline and continue to occupy the commercial heart of Thailand's capital. This is the fourth weekend of demonstrations in Bangkok. The Red Shirt movement, known formally as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, consists largely of supporters of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and activists who opposed a 2006 military coup that ousted him.
Pro-government supporters wave Thai national flags and face "Red Shirts" protesters, in central Bangkok, Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Thai soldiers threw a security cordon around Bangkok's business district after demonstrators demanding early elections threatened to march into the area, raising fears of a bloody crackdown and fighting between pro and anti-government demonstrators.
A Buddhist monk waves a red flag as anti-government protesters gather at at their encampment in one of Bangkok's main shopping center, Friday, April 16, 2010. An increasing number of monks took to the streets in protest of the military-backed government's refusal to call snap elections. Thailand's long-running political crisis showed no signs of ending, with the Red Shirt protesters vowing that their new encampment in the Ratchaprasong shopping area will be their final battlefront.
Buddhist monks sit next to a "Red Shirt" protester, in Bangkok, Saturday, April 10, 2010, before violence erupted between anti-government demonstrators and Thai soldiers. Thailand is reeling from its worst political violence in nearly two decades after clashes between the army and anti-government demonstrators left at least 15 people dead and hundreds injured. The country has been riven by political tensions since a bloodless coup ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.
Policemen contain pro-government supporters waving placards and Thai national flags as they face "Red Shirts" protesters, in Bangkok, Thursday, April 22, 2010. Thai soldiers threw a security cordon around Bangkok's business district after demonstrators demanding early elections threatened to march into the area, raising fears of a bloody crackdown and fighting between pro and anti-government demonstrators.
Thai soldiers stand outside a go-go bar in Patpong red district, close to the business center of Bangkok, Monday, April 19, 2010. Thai troops armed with assault rifles have moved to block Bangkok's prime business district not far from thousands of anti-government protesters. The government already declared Silom Road, often called Bangkok's Wall Street, off-limits to the protesters who have occupied the main shopping district nearby for weeks.
Pro-government supporters wave Thai national flags and placards in front of the statue of late King Rama V, during a rally at the Royal Plaza, in Bangkok, Friday, April 23, 2010. "Red shirt" protesters offered a compromise to the Thai government on Friday a day after a series of grenade attacks in Bangkok, saying they would accept dissolution of parliament in 30 days rather than immediately.
Thai soldiers shoot at anti-government protesters in a main avenue leading to Bangkok's business district, Friday, May 14, 2010. Thai troops battled protesters in central Bangkok attempting to seal off their encampment after an assassination attempt on a renegade general unleashed a new wave of violence.
Anti-government protesters fire slingshot and explosive home-made devices at line of soldiers during clashes. in Bangkok, Sunday, May 16, 2010. The Thai government threatened to impose a curfew in Bangkok after three days of fighting that has killed at least 24 people and spiraled into chaotic urban warfare, with both sides calling for reinforcements.
Thai soldiers follow an armoured vehicle breaking through a barricade during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six.
Soldiers follow an armored vehicle breaking through a barricade during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government protest leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six.
Soldiers run and take cover under the statue of late king Rama V during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six.
A Thai soldier aims at men taken prisoner during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six.
A Thai soldier aims at a man taken prisoner during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six.
Thai soldiers guard men taken prisoner during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six.
A Thai soldier handcuffs monks taken prisoner during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six.
Canadian journalist Chandler Vandergrift, badly wounded by a grenade explosion, is carried by rescuers during an operation to evict anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six. (Patrick de Noirmont)
Zen departement store, set alight by anti-government protesters, burns during an operation to evict "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six. (Patrick de Noirmont)
A torn Thai national flag flies in front of CentralWorld, one of Thailand's big shopping mall set alight by arsonists, in Bangkok business district, Tuesday, May 19, 2010. Thai authorities restored order in Bangkok after rioting and fires that veered towards anarchy as troops took control of an encampment occupied by thousands of anti-government protesters. The fighting and standoff of the past two months have claimed the lives of at least 85 people, injured hundreds and shattered the myth of national harmony. (Patrick de Noirmont)
A torn Thai national flag flies in front of Central World departement store set alight by anti-government protesters during an operation to evict "Red Shirt" protesters from their encampment in Bangkok, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Rioting and fires swept Bangkok after troops stormed a protest encampment, forcing anti-government leaders to give up but triggering clashes that killed at least six. The fighting and standoff of the past two months have claimed the lives of at least 85 people, injured hundreds and shattered the myth of national harmony. (Patrick de Noirmont)
