Anti-government protests continue in Thailand

Thai authorities fired tear gas amid renewed skirmishes with anti-government protesters outside key government buildings. Some schools and universities closed, amid a call for a general strike on the ninth day of demonstrations, according to the (BBC). Over the weekend, protesters attempted to storm the prime minister's office, Government House. Four people have died in Thailand's worst political turmoil since the 2010 rallies that ended in violence. The protesters, who want Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down, had declared Sunday the decisive "V-Day" of what they termed a "people's coup". However, despite clashing with security forces, they failed to seize more government buildings or unseat Yingluck. On Monday, some protesters returned to barricades outside official buildings in the capital, Bangkok. On Sunday, Suthep, a former opposition party politician, said he had met Yingluck and given her a two-day deadline to resign. "I told Yingluck that this is the only and last time I see her until power is handed over to the people," he was quoted as saying.