Blood-drawing begins among Thai protestors

BANGKOK, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The anti-government red-shirted protestors Tuesday morning began to donate blood, which will be scattered around the Government House later the day in a bid to pressure the government to bent to the movement's demand.

The anti-government red-shirted protestors Tuesday morning began to donate  blood, which will be scattered around the Government House later the day in a bid to pressure the government to bent to the movement's demand.

The TV channel reported that the blood donation process kicked off as the red-shirted people were registering to volunteer to give 10 cc blood each.

Nattawut Saikua, one of the red-shirts leaders, announced Monday afternoon that the blood will be taken from 100,000 protesters, including the red-shirts leaders, and will be scattered around the Government House as a measure to step up pressure on the government during their mass rally.

The red-shirts movement has staged the rally to topple the Abhisit administration since March 12, urging the prime minister to dissolve the parliament and call a fresh election. Earlier they claimed the rally will draw "one million supporters" to the capital city from all over the country, though the Interior Ministry gave its account that the total turnout in Bangkok was 46, 377 by 1:00 p.m. Sunday, the expected peak number of the rally.

The blood scattering will be a symbolic action, making the cabinet ministers have to walk over the protestors' blood when they enter the Government House to work, Nattawut said.

If the government still fails to dissolve the parliament after that, another million CC of blood will be poured at the Democrat Party headquarters, Natthawut added.

If it does not work too, a third million CC of blood will be scattered around the house of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, he said.

The red-shirts movement is staging a mass rally to topple the Abhisit administration, and tens of thousands of red-clad supporters from across the country had swarmed to the capital city since Friday.

Veera Muskiapong, one of the red-shirts leaders, read an ultimatum on midday Sunday, demanding the government to dissolve the parliament within 24 hours or they will step up pressure during their rally in Bangkok.

Abhisit, in a live TV address Monday morning, has rejected anti- government protestors' demands.