Thai red-shirt protesters march on parliament

Posted on Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Hundreds of Thai anti-government protesters - known as "red shirts" - have marched on parliament, amid high political tension in Bangkok.

The red-shirts forced MPs to call off a session, and some reports say a number of them are in the parliament building.

They regard Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's current government as undemocratic and want him to resign.

Thailand has lurched from one crisis to another since 2006 when the government of Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown.

The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says the situation at parliament is confused - with some red-shirt leaders saying the group who broke into parliament were provocateurs.

She says other reports claim some red-shirt supporters are actually in the parliament building trying to speak to senior politicians.