Most of red-shirted protesters' demands impossible : Govt

They wanted the People's Alliance for Democracy held legally accountable, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya sacked, the 1997 constitution reinstated and the House of Representatives dissolved within 15 days or the government would face another mass protest.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the demands were old issues, which the government was already processing according to the judicial system.

The protesters could propose charter amendments via existing mechanisms, he said.

As for Kasit's removal, the government did not have to share the political opinions of its opponents, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, said Saturday's rally was the first major one that the Abhisit government has encountered.

He said he made sure that there was no violence so officials backed down when the protesters moved forward.

"I would like to thank police and soldiers for their restraint. And I would like to thank the protesters for respecting the rules and demonstrating peacefully," he said.

Some of DAAD's demands could be met. Police are already moving against the PAD leaders in line with DAAD's demand, he said.

But the government could not abolish the 2007 Constitution and reinstate the 1997 charter because the government does not have the power to do so. A new charter must first win the endorsement of voters nationwide, he said.

"I believe Veera Musigapong, a protest leader, knows well that this demand cannot be met in 15 days," Suthep said.

Kasit had done nothing wrong to deserve his dismissal and the protesters should ask the public whether they want the House to be dissolved, he said.

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said he believes the protesters made the demands just to be in line with the DAAD's moves without really expecting the government to comply with them.

The government was already taking legal action against the PAD leaders and pushing for political reform before the protesters made the demands, he said.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt Gen Suchart Muenkaew held a meeting of senior officers to evaluate the situation following the besieging of Government House.

Following the onehour meeting, Suchart told reporters that police operations went smoothly in line with the Korakot 48 Operation plan.

He said no one was hurt in the tussles between police and protesters. Some mistakes would be used to improve the plan to deal with protesters in the future, he said.

The protesters dispersed from Government House at 0.40am Sunday. Some regrouped at Sanam Luang to ride their buses back to their homes upcountry.

Phetchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a leader of about 300 red shirts from Chiang Mai, said his group would return to the capital again on Valentines' Day when the deadline expires.