Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said order has been restored in the Asian country, two days after the army moved in to clear anti-government protesters in Bangkok's commercial centre.
In a televised address, Mr Vejjajiva said the government would ‘move swiftly to restore normalcy’ following a week of violence which left more than 50 people dead.
But he made no mention of new elections, which is one of the demonstrators’ key demands.
However, Thai Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said elections could not take place until a sufficient period of calm had elapsed.
The Prime Minister said he regretted the loss of life in the clashes, but defended the way the troops conducted themselves.
‘The operation was within the law and complied with international practice,’ he said, adding however that there would be an independent probe.
There have been concerns raised by the fact six bodies were discovered at a temple ‘safe zone’.
