Thousands of anti-government protesters blockaded Thailand's parliament today, forcing it to postpone an important legislative session in the latest twist to a six-month campaign to unseat the elected administration.
Riot police carrying only shields melted away before 10,000 demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), leaving hundreds of youths armed with iron bars, golf clubs and stakes milling around in the streets with nobody to fight.
The marchers, who have stymied government decision-making and raised doubts about the export-driven economy's ability to cope with global recession, also picketed the Finance Ministry, police HQ and the government's temporary offices at an old airport.
"May victory be with the people," PAD leader Somkiat Pongpaiboon said, repeating the group's mantra that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is a puppet of his brother-in-law, ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and should stand down.
Mr Somchai, who has been working out of the temporary offices since the PAD overran Government House in August, was unfazed.
"We have to talk and try for reconciliation," he said at an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru.
His refusal to stand down raises the prospect of a strike by public sector unions tomorrow although, as with previous calls, the disruption is unlikely to amount to anything like the nationwide industrial action union chiefs are dreaming of.
After the PAD crowds dispersed, parliament speaker Chai Chidchob said international agreements that need to be signed at next month's regional summit in the northern city of Chiang Mai would be re-tabled for December 8th and 9th
When protesters blocked access to parliament last month police burst through their lines with teargas and baton charges, triggering a day of running street battles in which two people were killed and hundreds, including police, were injured.
The PAD's Government House protest zone has come under almost daily attack from small bombs or grenades, and yesterday one of its security guards died from a grenade blast the previous day, the second such death in a week.
Six PAD security guards were charged with illegal possession of firearms today after hijacking a city bus with a sawn-off shotgun and trying to take it to the rally site, police said. Officers halted the bus by shooting out its tyres.
Major bloodshed would raise the chances of a military coup only two years after the army's removal of Mr Thaksin, who now lives in exile after skipping bail on corruption charges.