Thai protesters back down after live fire threat

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BANGKOK, Apr 20 (AFP): Thailand Tuesday toughened its stance against anti-government protesters, warning security forces would use live ammunition and tear gas in any fresh clashes.
Ten days after 25 people were killed and 800 wounded in a failed attempt to dislodge the red-shirted demonstrators, the government said it was determined to end four weeks of rallies but would not give a date for the crackdown.
Confronted by the newly muscular approach and an intimidating military presence deployed in Bangkok's financial hub, the protesters were forced to cancel plans for a march to the strategic district.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva did not rule out the prospect of martial law being declared to rout the Red Shirts, who have established a massive encampment in the capital's retail heartland.
"The military will make any decision over whether to declare martial law or not," Abhisit told reporters, adding that authorities would launch a crackdown in their own time.
"Security officials are not complacent, we will take quick action and do it to the best of our ability. The government does not want to see protracted protests but it's not easy as they are armed."
The army adopted gloves-off rhetoric towards the demonstrators, who have paralysed parts of the capital and forced major shopping centres to close, wreaking havoc on business life and the tourism industry in particular.
"Security forces will begin by firing tear gas and if they cannot stop protesters, then soldiers will start taking decisive action with live bullets," army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said.