Protesters mark fatal anniversary

At least 10,000 anti-government protesters returned to Bangkok's streets yesterday to mark the six-month anniversary of a deadly military crackdown, but there were no violent incidents.

Flag-waving, red-shirted protesters converged on the same shopping district they occupied during the April to May unrest that killed 91 people and wounded at least 1,800. "People died here," the protesters chanted.

But the lack of clear leadership among the "red shirts" makes a prolonged protest this time unlikely, especially with memories still fresh of a 19 May crackdown that ended in a night of rioting in which more than 30 buildings were set ablaze. "There have been and will be short and sporadic protests like this for some time," said Karn Yuenyong, director of the independent think-tank, Siam Intelligence Unit.