Thai protestors ‘will fight to death’

Thailand's two largest airports remain closed today, occupied by anti-government demonstrators who say they are prepared to "fight to the death". Thousands of passengers, including Britons, remain stranded at the airports, where emergency rule has been declared.

Somsak Kosaisuk, one of the PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy) leaders, told his supporters today: "We are not afraid. We will fight to the death, we will not surrender and we are ready. If they crack down on us we will come back with more protesters."

Thai PM Somchai Wongsawat, who has resisted calls for immediate elections made by the leader of the army, vowed to end the protest, saying the police will receive assistance from the military. However, a government spokesman said police had been told to do "whatever is necessary to open the airports on the basis of non-violence".

The PAD, a loose alliance of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class, have occupied the airports for a couple of days, carrying portraits of the king and wearing yellow.