Thai military seeks to avoid confrontation with protesters

Bangkok, Thailand - The Thai military is withdrawing its forces from parts of the country's capital to avoid potential confrontations with red-shirted anti-government protesters backing the ousted prime minister.

The announcement came as an estimated 80,000 protesters held a demonstration in Bangkok Saturday, the latest mass rally staged by supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They demand incumbent Abhisit Vejjajiva's government holds new elections.

"In order to avoid undesirable incidents and confrontation with the demonstrators, the military commanders have therefore ordered the withdrawal of all military and police forces being previously stationed in the risk zones to be moved out and, instead, regrouped in the nearby vicinities," military spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Saturday.

"Military commanders have expressed their appreciation to all military and police personnel for their vigorous work and emphasized personnel to treat demonstrators with politeness, which will help reduce conditions that lead to clashes among the Thai people."