Thailand Protest, Red Shirts | featured news

Anti-government protesters in Thailand fortified their encampment in central Bangkok after the government rejected their compromise offer on early elections but a rumored crackdown by troops overnight failed to materialize.

Thai troops fired rubber bullets at opposition "red shirts" on Saturday as they moved in to clear a protest site in Bangkok in the biggest confrontation in the month-long campaign for new elections, witnesses said.

Tens of thousands of protesters defied orders to leave the Thai capital's main shopping district on Sunday despite threats of mass arrests, upping the ante on the fourth week of a bold street rally to press for fresh elections.