Anti-govt protest ends in Thailand

BANGKOK - The leader of anti-government Pitak Siam group in Thailand announced Saturday evening that the rally to be ended, Thai Public Broadcasting Service reported.

General Boonlert Kaewprasit, leader of the pro-establishment Pitak Siam, announced on stage at about 5.20 pm Saturday that as it was getting dark, he decided to end the rally.

After the announcement, the protesters slowly dispersed from the rally venue at the Royal Plaza.

The Pitak Siam (meaning Protecting Siam) is led by a retired general Gen Boonlert. They accused administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of corruption, failing to administrate the country and being proxy of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. ?

The group has close ties with the pro-establishment, royalist Yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy, that seized Bangkok international airport in 2008. ?

There was a brief confrontation at the Makkawan Bridge at 10:40 am Saturday when supporters of anti-government Pitak Siam group tried to break through the police barricades to join the rally at the Royal Plaza. However, the route is prohibited from entering by anyone, according to the Internal Security Law (ISA) enforced earlier.

Police used tear gas to control the crowd. The clash has ended shortly before noon.

Several companies of riot-control police were deployed at Makkawan bridge, prohibiting people from passing through the Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue, where many official buildings including the government house located. The police earlier claimed they received intelligence reports that the anti-government protesters would seek to seize the government house.

The ISA gives the government greater powers to detain protesters, block routes, impose curfews, ban public gatherings and carry out searches of buildings.