11.50am Thailand time (12.50pm Singapore time)
- The reds are dispersing, to rousing music & dousing each other with water to celebrate Songkran. A Potentially disastrous situation has been averted.
11.40am Thailand time (12.40pm Singapore time)
- Red shirt leader Vera Musikapong is asking all protesters to leave Government House which they have been occupying. He said this was in the interest of saving people's lives and that they will fight later.
11.05am Thailand time (12.05pm Singapore time)
- The reds have now pulled back, abandoning the first line of defence.
11.00am Thailand time (12pm Singapore time)
- Army about to mount final push up Phitsanulok. Large force with APCs. Red lines 150m away, then another line further 150m. Locals are telling red shirts to leave soi 3 side lane where I am with some other journalists.
We are between the two red lines.
Some 2000 reds still at Government House up the road to our left. Army massed to our right.
Reds have set fire to bus, thick black smoke & small explosions. Army officer appeared inside soi & told all of us to come in to get away from main road. Reds have LPG cylinder with tyre round it & petrol bomb next to it, at their first front line. Army has been telling reds all night through loudspeakers to leave.
Most have, only had core remains here. Locals now trying to block off mouth of soi to somhow avoid the pitched battle about to start.