Leaders of a street campaign against Thailand's government have postponed a march against the police, easing fears of a repeat of last week's violence in which two people were killed and 400 injured.
Citing the continued funerary rites of the two supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) killed on October 7, PAD head Sondi Limthongkul said his demonstration at national police headquarters would now be on Wednesday, not Monday.
Despite this delay, the political atmosphere in Bangkok remains highly charged, with thousands of pro-government demonstrators gathering on Sunday for a two-day rally against the PAD.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra and the PAD's main target, told a news conference on Sunday he would not resign or call a snap election, saying neither would resolve Thailand's fundamental problems. The country has been riven by political conflict for the three years since the PAD started its street campaign against Thaksin, accusing him of corruption, cronyism and threatening the monarchy.
The dispute between the Thaksin camp and the military and royalist elite who despise him has seen a coup, elections and more street protests, but appears to be no nearer a conclusion.
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