Police not allowed to carry batons

Chongrak, who is also deputy national police chief, said, "They can keep the shields for self-defence. There is no need to carry batons. And if anything happened, police will not be blamed."

In what appeared to be a trade off for doing away with the batons, police has also asked PAD protestors to open up the roads the Government House during the day to alleviate traffic congestion, he said.

Jongrak replaced Lt Gen Assawin Kwanmuang, who was on Sunday, was hurriedly transferred to an inactive post, pending a promotion to a deputy national police chief.

A directive reportedly issued urgently by Interior Minister Kowit Watana who said Assawin would immediately be assigned to a desk job at the Royal Thai Police.

Assawin's hurried transfer was reportedly ordered by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who was upset that Assawin had not acted on his many previous orders to disperse the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy protesters.