Bangkok

Thai anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters gather at Ratchaprasong intersection, the focus of their two-month rally from March to May 2010 during which 91 people were killed and nearly 1,900 were injured, in downtown Bangkok on September 19, 2010. Thai anti-government 'Red Shirts' gathered in Bangkok and Chiang Mai to mark four years since a coup ousted Thaksin Shinawatra and to commemorate those slain in a May crackdown on their protest. Authorities were not expecting violence but kept security tight, with army-led command centres in both cities monitoring events and several thousand police deployed in Bangkok near the heart of April and May's deadly rallies.

Thai anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters gather at Ratchaprasong intersection, the focus of their two-month rally from March to May 2010 during which 91 people were killed and nearly 1,900 were injured, in downtown Bangkok on September 19, 2010. Thai anti-government 'Red Shirts' gathered in Bangkok and Chiang Mai to mark four years since a coup ousted Thaksin Shinawatra and to commemorate those slain in a May crackdown on their protest. Authorities were not expecting violence but kept security tight, with army-led command centres in both cities monitoring events and several thousand police deployed in Bangkok near the heart of April and May's deadly rallies.

Thai riot police discharge their weapons during a clash with 'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters in a northern section of Bangkok on April 28, 2010. Thai security forces fired warning shots during a confrontation with anti-government protesters in the north of Bangkok, which is reeling from weeks of sometimes violent unrest. The standoff, which followed a period of relative calm in the city, came as about 900 soldiers and police officers blocked 'Red Shirt' protesters who had left their fortified rally base in central Bangkok in a large convoy.

Thai anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters tie red ribbons at posts at Ratchaprasong intersection, the focus of their two-month rally from March to May 2010 during which 91 people were killed and nearly 1,900 were injured, in downtown Bangkok on September 19, 2010. Thai anti-government 'Red Shirts' gathered in Bangkok and Chiang Mai to mark four years since a coup ousted Thaksin Shinawatra and to commemorate those slain in a May crackdown on their protest. Authorities were not expecting violence but kept security tight, with army-led command centres in both cities monitoring events and several thousand police deployed in Bangkok near the heart of April and May's deadly rallies.

Thai policemen inspect the site of a bomb blast on the outskirts of Bangkok on October 5, 2010. A bomb ripped through an apartment building on the outskirts of Bangkok, killing at least three people, Thai police said. It was unclear whether the blast was planned. The explosion came hours after Thailand extended a controversial state of emergency in Nonthaburi and three other provinces, including Bangkok, in the wake of deadly street protests and a series of grenade blasts in the capital.

Smoke billows from a commercial area of Bangkok where Red Shirt demonstrators had their camp in downtown Bangkok on May 19, 2010. Thai protest leaders surrendered and told thousands of 'Red Shirt' supporters to end their weeks-long rally after an army assault on their fortified encampment left at least five people dead. Thai fire authorities said that arsonists have set 20 locations ablaze in Bangkok, including a massive shopping mall and bank branches.

Thai policemen inspect the site of a bomb blast on the outskirts of Bangkok on October 5, 2010. A bomb ripped through an apartment building on the outskirts of Bangkok, killing at least three people, Thai police said. It was unclear whether the blast was planned. The explosion came hours after Thailand extended a controversial state of emergency in Nonthaburi and three other provinces, including Bangkok, in the wake of deadly street protests and a series of grenade blasts in the capital.

Thai policemen inspect the site of a bomb blast on the outskirts of Bangkok on October 5, 2010. A bomb ripped through an apartment building on the outskirts of Bangkok, killing at least three people, Thai police said. It was unclear whether the blast was planned. The explosion came hours after Thailand extended a controversial state of emergency in Nonthaburi and three other provinces, including Bangkok, in the wake of deadly street protests and a series of grenade blasts in the capital.

Anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters offer prayers near a memorial site for victims of fierce street battles between protesters and the army at the week-end, during celebrations of the Songkran festival marking the Thai new year, at Democracy monument in Bangkok on April 13, 2010. The Thai authorities will allow 'Red Shirt' protesters to keep up their rallies in Bangkok for months if they do not use violence, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said.

Anti-government protesters wave red flags and clappers past riot police as they parade through the financial district during a rally in central Bangkok on April 6, 2010. Anti-government Thai protesters vowed to 'break every checkpoint' in Bangkok and marched through the capital in defiance of authorities' warnings. Riot police have surrounded tens of thousands of 'Red Shirts' who have been rallying in the city's commercial heartland since April 3, after the government declared it was illegal to gather there and on 11 other routes.

A Thai red shirt guard listens to instructions on how to use a shield inside the fortified camp in the central financial district of downtown Bangkok on May 13, 2010. Thai protest leader was seriously wounded as gunshots and an explosion rang out at a vast protest camp in Bangkok after the army threatened to seal off the site, a hospital source said. The violence came after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva shelved a plan for November elections and hopes faded for an imminent resolution to a crippling two-month crisis that has sparked outbreaks of violence, leaving 29 people dead and 1,000 injured.

Thai soldiers and Armoured Personal Carriers (APCs) breach through the Red Shirt anti-government protestors camp in Bangkok on May 19, 2010. Thai security forces backed by armoured vehicles advanced on the 'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters' camp in Bangkok in what a senator said would be a 'decisive' crackdown.

''Red Shirt'' anti government protesters carry a man who was during clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Bangkok on May 15, 2010. Thailand's army said it would impose a curfew on parts of Bangkok as the death toll from several days of violent civil unrest in the capital rose to at least 25 dead and more than 200 wounded.

A Thai anti-government 'Red Shirt' protester reacts after lighting a candle in memory of those slain during rallies in April and May as they gather at the Ratchaprasong intersection in downtown Bangkok, the focus of their two-month rally, on September 19, 2010. Thousands of Thai anti-government 'Red Shirts' massed to mark four years since a coup ousted their hero Thaksin Shinawatra and to commemorate those slain in a May crackdown on their protests. In their biggest show of strength in Bangkok since their rallies in April and May, during which 91 people were killed, police said about 5,000 Red Shirts gathered in the city's commercial centre, closely monitored by security forces.

Myanmar pro-democracy activists chant slogans against the military regime in Myanmar during a protest in front of the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, 08 August 2007. Scores of protestors gathered in front of the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok holding banners and placards and demanded immediate release of their democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Rafael Nadal of Spain is escorted as he arrives to the court before his match against Ruben Bemelmans of Belgium during the Day 6 of the PTT Thailand Open at Impact Arena on September 30, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 01: Kittipong Wachiramanowong of Thailand (L) and Dimitry Tursunov of Russia in action during their doubles match against Jonathan Erlich of Israel and Jurgen Melzer of Austria on Day 7 of the PTT Thailand Open at Impact Arena on October 01, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrives on a wheelchair at Chulalongkorn hospital in Bangkok on October 1, 2010. Thailand's 78-year-old queen has been admitted to hospital in Bangkok, where she was visited by her husband King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has himself been hospitalised for the past year.

'Red Shirt' protesters lay roses in front of the Bangkok Remand prison where co-leaders are being detained in Bangkok on October 12, 2010. Red shirts protesters gathered at the prison asking the authorities to release their leaders.

CORRECTION ADDING RESTRICTIONS A woman stands in flood water outside her house in Bangkok on october 24, 2010. Bangkok braced for rising waters encroaching on the fortified city on Sunday as the death toll from two weeks of nationwide flooding rose to 38, emergency officials said.

A man tries to make his way through flooded streets in Bangkok on October 26, 2010. The worst floods to hit parts of Thailand in decades have left at least 56 people dead, but Bangkok has so far avoided heavy deluges, officials said.

Myanmar activists hold masks of the country's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration in front of Chinese embassy in Bangkok, 24 October 2007. Myanmar activists protested outside China's embassy in Bangkok to demand freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi, kicking off a day of rallies planned worldwide in support of the detained democracy leader.

This file photo taken on March 7, 2008 shows Thai commandos escorting back hand-cuffed alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the 'Merchant of Death' for his role arming rebels from Africa to South America, after a press conference at the Thai police headquarters in Bangkok following his arrest in a sting operation led by US anti-drug agents in Bangkok on March 6, 2008. The undercover US agents who captured alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout lured him to Thailand by posing as Colombian insurgents bent on shooting US pilots, their handlers said on November 18, 2010.

A 'Red Shirt' anti-government protester holds a toy gun during a demonstration in front of a Bangkok prison on November 19, 2010. Thai 'Red Shirts' gathered outside Bangkok's Remand Prison where the movement's leaders are held as they began events to mark six months since a deadly army crackdown on their anti-government rally.

'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters tie black ribbons to the gates during a demonstration in front of a Bangkok prison on November 19, 2010. Thai 'Red Shirts' gathered outside Bangkok's Remand Prison where the movement's leaders are held as they began events to mark six months since a deadly army crackdown on their anti-government rally.

'Red Shirts' anti-government protesters light candles in the shape of heart on Ratchaprasong road during a demonstration in Bangkok on November 19, 2010. Thai 'Red Shirts' gathered November 19 outside a Bangkok prison where the movement's leaders are held as they began events to mark six months since a deadly army crackdown on their anti-government rally.

'Red Shirts' anti-government protesters light candles in the shape of heart on Ratchaprasong road during a demonstration in Bangkok on November 19, 2010. Thai 'Red Shirts' gathered November 19 outside a Bangkok prison where the movement's leaders are held as they began events to mark six months since a deadly army crackdown on their anti-government rally.

Members of a rescue foundation carry bags of corpses at the mortuary storage room of a Buddhist temple in Bangkok on November 19, 2010. Thai police investigating human foetuses hidden at a Bangkok Buddhist temple by illegal abortion clinics recovered nearly 1,000 more corpses and said they expected further grisly finds.

AFP PICTURE OF THE YEAR 2010''Red Shirt'' anti government protesters carry a man who was shot during clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Bangkok on May 15, 2010. Thailand's army said it would impose a curfew on parts of Bangkok as the death toll from several days of violent civil unrest in the capital rose to at least 25 dead and more than 200 wounded.

''Red Shirts'' anti-governement protesters release red colored lanterns during a demonstration at the Democracy monument in Bangkok on December 10, 2010. Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Bangkok demanding the release of their leaders, who were jailed following mass opposition demonstrations earlier this year.

Red Shirts anti-government protesters hold a protest banner as they gather in front of the Bangkok Remand prison where co-leaders are being detained in Bangkok on September 17, 2010. Red shirts supporters gathered at prisons around the country calling for the release of all political prisoners held since the September 19, 2006 coup.

Riot policemen stand guard beside emptied containers lying in a pool of blood after red-shirted supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra spilled blood at Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat party offices, in Bangkok on March 16, 2010. Protesters spilled their own blood at the gates of Thailand's government headquarters in a colourful act of political theatre designed to propel their fugitive hero back to power, then took some of the blood to the Democrat party offices for another liquid protest, where a Hindu priest again began the symbolic spilling by invoking a curse against the government. It was the latest part of a pro-Thaksin demonstration that has drawn up to 100,000 protesters to the streets of Bangkok since the weekend, according to police, watched over by a 50,000-strong contingent of security forces.

A Thai armoured personnel carriers (APC) goes trhough the barricades of the Red Shirt anti-government protestors camp in Bangkok on May 19, 2010. Hundreds of police and army, backed by armoured vehicles, are converging on the perimeter of an anti-government protest camp in Bangkok.

Thai firefigthers try to extingish a fire on the barricade of the Red Shirt anti-government protestors camp in Bangkok on May 19, 2010. Hundreds of police and army, backed by armoured vehicles, are converging on the perimeter of an anti-government protest camp in Bangkok.

Thai soldiers and Armoured Personal Carriers (APCs) breach through the Red Shirt anti-government protestors camp in Bangkok on May 19, 2010. Thai security forces backed by armoured vehicles advanced on the 'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters' camp in Bangkok in what a senator said would be a 'decisive' crackdown.

iGeneral Sunthorn Kongsompong, the commander-in-chief of the Thai army and leader of the military junta, which ousted Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan 23 February 1991 in Bangkok in a military coup, kneels in front of an alter 26 February 1991 in Bangkok to pay respects to the Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej who officially appointed him as head of the ruling junta in a ceremony held at the army auditorium.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 01: Christopher Kas (top L) of Germany and Viktor Troicki (top R) of Serbia in action during their doubles match against Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski of Great Britain on Day 7 of the PTT Thailand Open at Impact Arena on October 01, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - OCTOBER 03: Viktor Troicki of Serbia and Christopher Kas of Germany pose with the trophy after victory in their doubles match against Jonathan Erlich of Israel and Jurgen Melzer of Austria during the Day 9 of the PTT Thailand Open at Impact Arena on October 3, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thai anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters gather and light candles around the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on October 10, 2010. About 6,000 'Red Shirt' protesters rallied in Bangkok to mark six months since a night of bloody clashes with the army, which left 25 people dead, during their two-month-long street protests.

Thai anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters gather and light candles around the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on October 10, 2010. About 6,000 'Red Shirt' protesters rallied in Bangkok to mark six months since a night of bloody clashes with the army, which left 25 people dead, during their two-month-long street protests.

Thai anti-government 'Red Shirt' protesters gather and light candles around the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on October 10, 2010. About 6,000 'Red Shirt' protesters rallied in Bangkok to mark six months since a night of bloody clashes with the army, which left 25 people dead, during their two-month-long street protests.

An Airbus A380 seen parked as airasia plane prepares to land at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, 31 August 2007. The world's largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380, arrived in Bangkok 31 August the first leg of its four-city Asian tour, as the European aero giant aimed to expand growth against competitor Boeing.

Myanmar activists hold masks of the country's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration in front of Chinese embassy in Bangkok, 24 October 2007. Myanmar activists protested outside China's embassy in Bangkok to demand freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi, kicking off a day of rallies planned worldwide in support of the detained democracy leader.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - NOVEMBER 08: Tiger Woods of USA and Camilo Villegas of Columbia chats while waiting their turns to play on the 11th hole during the World Golf Salutes King Bhumibol Skins tournament at Amata Spring Country Club on November 8, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.

'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters shout slogans during a demonstration in front of a Bangkok prison on November 19, 2010. Thai 'Red Shirts' gathered outside Bangkok's Remand Prison where the movement's leaders are held as they began events to mark six months since a deadly army crackdown on their anti-government rally.

'Red Shirt' anti-government protesters hang paper doves during a demonstration in front of a Bangkok prison on November 19, 2010. Thai 'Red Shirts' gathered outside Bangkok's Remand Prison where the movement's leaders are held as they began events to mark six months since a deadly army crackdown on their anti-government rally.

'Red Shirts' anti-government protesters light candles in the shape of heart on Ratchaprasong road during a demonstration in Bangkok on November 19, 2010. Thai 'Red Shirts' gathered November 19 outside a Bangkok prison where the movement's leaders are held as they began events to mark six months since a deadly army crackdown on their anti-government rally.

''Red Shirt'' anti government protesters carry a man who was shot during clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Bangkok on May 15, 2010. Thailand's army said it would impose a curfew on parts of Bangkok as the death toll from several days of violent civil unrest in the capital rose to at least 25 dead and more than 200 wounded.

''Red Shirts'' anti-governement protesters pray infront of a spot where candles are layed in memory of the protesters who lost their lives during a demonstration at the Democracy monument in Bangkok on December 10, 2010. Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Bangkok demanding the release of their leaders, who were jailed following mass opposition demonstrations earlier this year.

''Red Shirt'' anti government protesters carry a man who was shot during clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Bangkok on May 16, 2010. Thailand's army said it would impose a curfew on parts of Bangkok as the death toll from several days of violent civil unrest in the capital rose to at least 25 dead and more than 200 wounded.