Protests halt Thai parliament

The government of Thailand has been forced to cancel all parliamentary debates today as tens of thousands of demonstrators surround the parliament building.

The protestors, led by the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), say the demonstration is their "final battle" to topple the government. They have occupied the government compound in Bangkok for months.

Dressed in yellow shirts and headbands, and carrying flags and portraits of the king they revere, Bhumibol Adulyadej, groups have marched on the police headquarters and the finance ministry. Police said they numbered 18,000.

Fears are growing that there may be a repeat of the violence in October which left two dead and 500 injured. The speaker of the parliament made an appeal on radio: "There will be no violence today, not a single drop of blood... I ask for all sides to stop..."