Thai riot police surrounded  Bangkok's Government House on Wednesday, a day after thousands of protesters stormed  Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's office compound, demanding his resignation.

Deputy police spokesman Major General Surapol Tuanthong told AFP that a few officers and protesters received minor injuries during scuffles.

 "Police have surrounded Government House and have taken up their positions. They are not going to disperse the crowd - we are trying to negotiate," Surapol told AFP.

Most of the protesters, who attempted to overthrow the government on Tuesday,  remained calm early Wednesday, sitting on lawns of Government House and listening to speeches.
  

"This is the time that the authorities will storm into the Government House," Chamlong Srimuang, one of the protest leaders, told the crowds according to the AFP.
  
 

On Tuesday, close to 35,000 anti-government protesters surrounded the government headquarters and several ministries. They also took control of  Channel Seven, the state television station.
 

Although the situation remains tense in the Thai capital, the day went ahead without major problems, according to FRANCE 24 correspondent Cyril Payen in Bangkok.
 

“The numerous soldiers and policemen deployed in Bangkok have kept the situation in control throughout the day,” he said, before adding: “The situation could quickly degenerate however, as has happened in the past in Thailand.”

Royal yellow

The demonstrators, who were dressed in yellow, the royal colour, belong to the ‘People’s Alliance for Democracy’ (PAD). The PAD is a mixed group whose aim is to overthrow Samak’s government, which is largely dominated by allies of former President Thaksin Shinawatra.

One of its leaders is press magnate Sodhi Limthongkul, already a fierce opponent of Thaksin, who has been living in exile in Great Britain to escape prosecution.  

”The demonstrators are the same as those who rejected Thaksin Shinawatra. They advocate the return to power of the military and, in a way, are rejecting the western electoral system,” explains Cyril Payen.

“The army and the police won’t give up"

Samak’s People’s Power Party has been in power since December 2007, when it pulled off a decisive victory in the first legislative elections since the coup that brought down Thaksin in September 2006.

"I won’t back down. My government won’t back down. The army and the police won’t back down,” said Samak Sundaravej, who has so far refused to proclaim a state of emergency.