Thailand to launch operation to reclaim protest sites

Thailand's embattled government will launch a security operation to reclaim several areas occupied by opposition protesters, a top official said today, as riot police gathered in the capital Bangkok.
The authorities plan to re-take four sites including the government headquarters and the interior ministry, National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut told AFP, saying officials would try to negotiate with the demonstrators first.
"We will re-take wherever we can and arrest protest leaders," he said.