国际英语新闻：Protestors to return to main rally site: Thai anti-gov't core leader

BANGKOK, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The anti-government group will manage to take the protestors, who are gathering at several separated areas in central Bangkok, to return to the main rally site Rajprasong Intersection, Korbsak Sabhavasu, the Prime Minister's secretary-general said Monday evening.

Korbsak said anti-government core leader Nattawut Saikua called him at 5 p.m. to inform about the plan, Thai News Agency reported.

For the main rally site Rajprasong area, it is estimated some 5, 000 protestors had remained there when the 3 p.m. deadline passed, said Police Major General Prawut Thavornsiri, spokesman of the national police operation command, the Bangkok Post's website reported.

Fire and smoke are seen after protestors burned tyres at the Din Daeng area in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, May 16, 2010. Some 35 lost their lives and 241 others were wounded during clashes between troops and anti-government protestors starting from Friday in Thailand's capital Bangkok, the Erawan's Bangkok Emergency Medical Service Center said on Sunday.

However, more time would be given to the protestors in downtown Bangkok to leave the rally area, acting government spokesman, Panithan Wattanayakorn said as the deadline had passed.

Shortly after 2 p.m., military helicopters dropped leaflets on the encampment, urging the protestors to leave the Rajprasong site immediately.