Thai protesters besiege ministerial buildings, oust officials

Thai opposition protesters targeted several more government ministries on Tuesday in a continuation of their effort to depose Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government. "We have to leave because (the protesters) will cut the utilities," Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak told AFP. He added the Transport and Agriculture Ministries were also surrounded. The protesting crowds also gave officials at the Interior Ministry an ultimatum to leave within one hour, the news agency reports. The ministry staffers yielded to the demand about 15 minutes later and left the building, as some 800 people surrounding the building were cheering and chanting "Come out"! Meanwhile thousands of protesters tried to march on the prime minister’s offices, which are heavily guarded by police. After being blocked, they retreated to Bangkok's historic quarter, where they have set up a main stage. On Monday, Thai opposition protesters occupied the country’s Finance and Foreign Ministries. They pledged to hold the buildings overnight and proceed to take over four more ministries on Tuesday, including the Transport Ministry and the three already targeted, according to the Bangkok Post. PM Yingluck in response invoked the Internal Security Act, which gives extraordinary powers to security forces, but pledged not to use force in the confrontation. The ongoing turmoil follows weeks of protest in Thailand against an amnesty bill, which would allow the return of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, the brother of the current PM Yingluck. Thaksin is currently living in exile after being ousted during the 2006 military coup. The bill, which was blocked in the parliament, would also pardon those responsible for an army intervention during the 2010 protest, which left more than 90 people killed. Since 2008 Thaksin has been living outside of Thailand, being accused of undermining the country's powerful monarchy and breaching conflict-of-interest laws. He had been tried in absentia and sentenced to a two year term. Despite being reviled by the elite of the large cities, he remains a popular figure in rural areas.