DHAKA: Tens of thousands of demonstrators slept on the streets of Bangkok on Monday night, continuing a protest intended to force Thailand`s Prime Minister from office, authorities said.

The protesters have laid siege to major intersections in Thailand`s large and hectic capital city. At their peak on Monday evening, they numbered as many as 170,000, Lt. Gen. Paradon Pattanathabut, the nation`s security chief, said Tuesday.

But many of the demonstrators have since returned to their homes in the Bangkok area, Paradon said. About 60,000 of them stayed out on the streets overnight, he said, sleeping under tents and mosquito nets, reports CNN.

The protesters, who aim to keep demonstrating for a month, occupied seven main intersections and blocked one government office on Monday.

They say they intend to march to several other ministries, close more intersections and cut off electricity and water supplies at some government offices.

It`s all part of an effort dubbed "Bangkok shutdown." It`s orchestrated by the People`s Democratic Reform Committee protest group, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister for the opposition Democrat Party.

Traffic disrupted

On Monday -- Day 1 -- students stayed at home as 140 schools were closed. In some places, protesters stopped cars from crossing blockades.

Many people used alternative routes or means of transportation to reach their destinations.

Though many areas of the city are unaffected, several of the rally sites are in popular tourist areas.

About 20,000 security personnel kept watch throughout the city. But so far, the shutdown has gone without serious incident.

The government has offered talks with protesters and other concerned parties to discuss a way out and way to postpone the election, but Suthep has rejected the offer.

BDST:  1118 HRS, JAN 14, 2014
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