24 May 2010

Bangkok curfew extended

7:30 am on 24 May 2010

The Thai government has extended a night-time curfew in Bangkok by another two days.

The BBC reports extensions will be considered on a day to day basis.

The curfew was imposed on Wednesday after a crackdown on demonstrators in the central city. At least 15 people died in subsequent street fighting.

Buildings including banks, a television station, the stock exchange and the vast Central World shopping centre were set on fire as the demonstrators retreated.

The city is preparing to get back to business on Monday. A clean-up was held in the central city on Sunday.

Some Skytrain services also reopened on Sunday.

In a weekly address to the nation, prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the curfew would be extended to Monday night.

Mr Abhisit also said the country was "calm and returning to normalcy" and schools, streets and government agencies would reopen on Monday.