Thai protesters to scale back Bangkok gatherings

An anti-government protester volunteers to clean graffiti debris from the main gate of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters in preparation for the removal of anti- government protest sites and their road blocks in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, March 1, 2014.  [Photo/Agencies]

BANGKOK - The anti-government protesters who once threatened to shut down Thailand's capital said they will significantly scale back their presence in the streets, in what could be a prelude to eased tensions.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said in his nightly speech Friday that the protesters would withdraw from several stages erected at key intersections around Bangkok. Starting Monday, they will consolidate at Lumpini Park, a central venue that has become a traditional protest site.

Political violence escalated in the past week with almost nightly grenade attacks and the deaths of four children last weekend in attacks on protest sites. Twenty-three people have been killed and hundreds wounded in connection with the protests since November. At the same time, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's supporters have ratcheted up their threats to take to the streets, and even resist with arms attempts to topple the government.

Suthep described the planned move as a token of appreciation for Bangkok residents putting up with the inconvenience, saying his People's Democratic Reform Committee acted not because the government sought to chase them out "but because we care about Bangkok and would like to return it to its owner."

Actions to shut down government offices and disrupt businesses controlled by Yingluck's family would continue, he said.

Thailand has seen political conflict since 2006, when then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother, was ousted by a military coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. Thaksin's supporters and opponents have since taken to the streets for extended periods in a power struggle.

Suthep's announcement came a day after he made a highly conditional offer to negotiate with Yingluck, shifting from the absolute refusal he maintained for months.

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