Thailand protesters to pour own blood at prime minister's house

Bangkok: Thai protesters seeking a change of government plan more shock tactics on Wednesday, saying they will pour litres of their own blood at the prime minister's house in an upscale neighbourhood of the capital.

This followed similar "blood sacrifices" on Tuesday at Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's office and the headquarters of his Democrat Party.

The dramatic acts grabbed attention but put the "Red Shirt" protest movement no closer to its goal of forcing new elections.

Protest leaders said they planned to march Wednesday to Abhisit's house in the Sukhumvit Road area, home to many rich Thais and expatriates.

Abhisit has been sleeping at an army headquarters and taking trips out of the city since the demonstrations began.

"We heard they were coming so I stayed in. Sure enough we're blocked in now," said John Bujnosh, a Texas oil driller who lives on the same street as Abhisit.

More than 100,000 demonstrators from all over the country gathered in Bangkok on Sunday, vowing to continue their protest until victory. But Abhisit has rejected their demands to dissolve Parliament, saying only that he will listen to the protesters' point of view and leaving the situation in a stalemate.

Reporters asked one of the protest leaders, Veera Musikapong, what their next move would be, and he replied, "I want to know that myself." He said the group maps strategy on a day-by-day basis.

The protesters consist of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption, and pro-democracy activists who opposed the army takeover.

On Tuesday, thousands of Red Shirts formed long lines to have their blood drawn by nurses to spill at Government House, the prime minister's office. Leaders claimed to have collected 300,000 cubic centimeters (80 gallons).

A few teaspoons of blood were drawn from each volunteer and then transferred into dozens of large plastic water jugs that were passed overhead through the crowd of cheering protesters before being delivered to Government House.

The Red Shirts say that if the people are willing to sacrifice their blood, Abhisit should show similar spirit by relinquishing power.