Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators in the Thai capital Bangkok are protesting for the fourth day in a row. Many demonstrators have been giving blood so that it can be spilled in protest at the gates of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's office.

The "Red Shirts", who support ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, are demanding the resignation of the current government and early elections. Mr Thaksin's supporters, who are largely from rural areas in the north and east of the country, would be likely to win an election.

A joint session of both houses of parliament has been cancelled after only 80 out of the 625 parliamentarians turned up. Many of them stayed away fearing violence by Thaksin supporters. The Red Shirts have vowed not to use violence, and so far only one violent incident has been reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban says the authorities had received reports that there could be arson or bomb attacks planned, but critics have dismissed this as "scaremongering".

Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted from power by the army in 2006 and now lives in exile in Dubai.