**Thai security forces have surrounded a hotel where Red Shirt anti-government protest leaders are staying.**Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the police were there to catch “terrorists” - the government’s word for an alleged protest hard core.
A Red Shirt leader confirmed to the BBC that troops had surrounded the SC Park Hotel and that protesters camping in the city were moving towards the area.
The protests - now in their fifth week - are aimed at forcing new elections.
There are conflicting reports about whether three protest leaders - Arisman Pongruangrong, Phayup Panket and Suporn Atthawong - had been arrested, had escaped the security cordon or were still trapped inside the hotel.
Mr Arisman scaled down the hotel facade into a waiting crowd of Red Shirt supporters who then helped him into a car and drove away.
‘Terrorists’
“The government’s special team is surrounding the SC Park hotel where we have learned that there are terrorists and some of their leaders hiding,” said Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security.
Speaking on national television, Mr Suthep urged “innocent” protesters to leave the anti-government rally site in Bangkok’s commercial district.
“Innocent people should leave the protests because the authorities have to take decisive measures against terrorists,” he said.
The Red Shirts had consolidated their protests camps into one in recent days, citing a fear of another crackdown.
The district is home to major shopping centres, five-star hotels and office buildings, many of which have been closing early, or completely closed, over the past 10 days.
A failed military effort to clear the protests last Saturday left at least 23 people dead, most of them civilians.
The protesters are demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve parliament and call new elections.
They have rejected the government’s latest offer to dissolve parliament in six months.
Mr Abhisit has rejected calls to step down - and has not made any public statement in several days.This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.