Now he will want to capitalise on his new strong position and use the rally as the launch pad for the general election.

BBC: Hague needs to look like election winner

Within hours, as casualties streamed into hospitals, the deputy prime minister, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a former general and prime minister who had recently joined the government to mediate with the PAD, resigned to take responsibility for the disorder.

ECONOMIST: Thailand