Thai 'Red Shirts' collect blood for symbolic protest

THAILAND: Thailand's red-clad protesters rallying in Bangkok began collecting their own blood Tuesday, to be spilled at the entrance of government offices if their demands for snap elections are not met. Hundreds of "Red Shirts," who back fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, were queuing up in the capital to offer a small amount of their blood in an unusual gesture of their determination, an AFP reporter witnessed.

"Today we spill our blood, not for donations but to show equality. We are fighting," said one protest leader Nattawut Saikur, claiming that the process was medically safe with clean needles.

Senior Reds said the blood would be spilled at the entrance to Government House in Bangkok's historic quarter at 6:00pm (1100 GMT) if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva continued to refuse their demands to dissolve parliament.

"If Abhisit is still stubborn, even though he does not have blood on his hands, his feet will be bloodied with our curses," Nattawut added.

Bangkok, Tuesday, AFP