Bangkok: Thailand`s anti-government "Red Shirts" paraded the bodies of dead protesters though the tense capital on Monday and said the time for negotiation was over after the worst political unrest in 18 years.
The Reds vowed to press on with their bid to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva following weekend clashes in Bangkok which left 21 people dead and more than 800 injured.
A stream of cars, pick-up trucks and taxis filled with Red Shirts gathered at their main rally site in the historic district of Bangkok before beginning a procession through the capital with their fallen comrades.
Thailand has been in turmoil for weeks but the protesters say they will not end their campaign until the government dissolves parliament and calls fresh elections, despite the deaths of 17 civilians and four soldiers on Saturday.
"We want people in Bangkok to know what happened to the Red Shirts because the government and the Army control the news," said Chakkricth Kadeeluck, a 34-year-old watch seller from Chonburi, east of the capital.
"The Red Shirts want the people to know the truth."
The demonstrators are calling for Abhisit to step down and leave the country, saying there is no point in further negotiations with the government.
Tourists shaken after Bangkok bloodshed "What else is there to talk about?" said Reds leader Jatuporn Prompan.
Abhisit offered last month to hold elections by the end of 2010 -- one year ahead of schedule -- to end the stand-off with the Reds, but protest leaders rejected the proposal.
The government also played down local media reports on Monday that Abhisit might offer to bring forward the polls to October.
"There was no talk of elections in October yet," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said.
The Reds, whose base is drawn from the poorest sections of society, mostly support fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, hailing his policies for the masses such as cheap healthcare.
Bureau Report
