Thai Government, protesters call truce for King's birthday

"We both mutually agreed to back down for the sake of our great father, our King," said Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut of the National Security Council. It wasn't immediately possible to reach protest leaders for comment. There were signs of easing tensions on the ground in Bangkok. Paradon said that thousands of protesters were allowed to enter the compound of Government House, the headquarters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's administration that has been a key target of demonstrations in recent days.

Police also took down barriers in front of their metropolitan office Tuesday morning and allowed anti-government demonstrators to walk toward the building. The protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, had declared late Monday that some demonstrators would head for Bangkok's Metropolitan Police Bureau and "seize this police office for the people of Thailand." He made the comments after being told he faces an arrest warrant on insurrection charges. Suthep, a former deputy prime minister for the opposition Democrat Party, has led the demonstrations taking place against Yingluck's government in pockets of central Bangkok in recent weeks, Kazinform refers to CNN.

A violent turn
Protesters have occupied various official buildings, but the situation remained mostly peaceful until Saturday, when clashes with government supporters killed three people and wounded dozens more. It was the worst civil unrest in Thailand since scores died amid a military crackdown on demonstrations in 2010. In the current crisis, confrontations between police and protesters also hardened over the weekend, despite repeated government promises that authorities wouldn't use violence. Tear gas canisters and rocks were flung back and forth across the barricades. On Monday, police said they used rubber bullets in some instances. But by Tuesday morning, police appeared to have adopted a more conciliatory approach. After negotiating with protesters, they took down the concrete barriers that blocked the way to the Metropolitan Police Bureau and allowed thousands of demonstrators to file through. Some police officers shook hands with demonstrators, happily ushering them past in an area where tear gas had been fired during the night. Protesters responded with cheers and applause, claiming victory. Some of them hugged police officers and took photos with them. The mood on the streets changed noticeably -- a more carnival atmosphere returned with demonstrators blowing whistles.

Call to resign
It remained unclear what Suthep's next announcement to his followers would be. After meeting with Yingluck on Sunday, Suthep called on her to resign within two days. But the Prime Minister said Monday it would be unconstitutional for her to do so. Yingluck, who survived a no confidence vote in Parliament last week, said she was open to further talks to resolve the crisis. Protesters say they want to rid Thailand of the influence of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the older brother of Yingluck. That's an ambitious goal in a country where parties affiliated with Thaksin, who built his political success on populist policies that appealed to Thailand's rural heartland, have won every election since 2001.

Furor over amnesty bill
Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006, and has spent most of the time since then in exile overseas. If he returns, he risks a two-year prison sentence on a corruption conviction, which he says was politically motivated. The current protests in Bangkok were prompted by a botched attempt by Yingluck's government to pass an amnesty bill that would have opened the door for her brother's return. That move added fuel for critics who accuse Yingluck of being nothing more than Thaksin's puppet, an allegation she has repeatedly denied.

The military -- which removed Thaksin amid protests in 2006 -- has remained on the sidelines of the current crisis. Yingluck said Monday that she believes the military is taking a neutral stance.