Thailand opposition calls off protests

BANGKOK, THAILAND — Leaders of demonstrations that plunged the Thai capital into chaos called off their protests Tuesday after rioting that left two dead and more than 120 injured across Bangkok.

The swift and unexpected resolution ended with a final crowd of 2,000 die-hard protesters dutifully lining up for waiting government buses to take them home.

Thailand Deputy Police Commissioner Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said four of the protest leaders had surrendered and would be inter- rogated.

Later, metropolitan police spokesman Suporn Pansua said the Bangkok Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against 14 protest leaders, including deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who went into self-imposed exile last year before a court convicted him of violating a conflict-of-interest law.

The warrants cite creation of a public disturbance and illegal assembly, which carry prison terms of up to seven and three years, respectively.

“We have decided to call off the rally today because many brothers and sisters have been hurt and killed,” said key protest leader Suporn Attawong. “And we will not allow more deaths.”

Jakrapob Penkair, another protest leader, said the movement, which is demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and new elections, “will continue fighting.” The leaders did not specify what they would do next.

The protests were the latest in a long-simmering conflict between two rival groups that was set off by the 2006 coup that removed Thaksin from power. His supporters, the “red shirts,” are drawn largely from the impoverished countryside, where he is popular for his populist policies.

They took to the streets after protests of their rivals -- the “yellow shirts” -- brought the country to a halt last year by occupying the seat of government and the capital’s airports. Those demonstrations, led by a mix of royalists, academics, professionals and retired military who oppose Thaksin, broke up only after court rulings removed his allies from power. Abhisit was later appointed prime minister.