2,700 police deployed to ensure security at "red-shirt" rally site: Thai police spokesman

Some 18 police companies or 2,700 police personnel have been deployed to ensure security around the rally site Rathchaprasong area in the capital Bangkok, the spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Bureau said Thursday.

Police Major General Piya Uthayo said that the number of the 18 police companies was raised from the earlier 9 police companies.

The security plan was adjusted after the "red-shirts" abandoned the rally site Phan Fah Bridge to reinforce other "red-shirts" at the Rathchaprasong Intersection, Thai News Agency quoted the police spokesman as saying.

Police Major General Piya said additional checkpoints have also been setup around the rally site in a bid to prevent ill-intended people to incite violence there.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Maj-General Phanu Kerdlapphol has been assigned to deal with the traffic situation on streets next to the rally site, the police spokesman said.

From Thursday, the "red-shirt" main rally site has been only at the Rathchaprasong area after Wednesday when they abandoned another main rally site at the Phan Fah Bridge in Bangkok.

They have demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to " immediately" dissolve the lower House of parliament and hold a new general election.

The "red-shirts" have still viewed that, apart from the House dissolution, there is no other solution to the country's ongoing political conflict.

Source: Xinhua