As it happened yesterday

Parts of central Bangkok were paralysed yesterday after proThaksin protesters blocked entrances to the Victory Monument intersection, forcing changes to more than 100 bus routes.

About 100 cabbies began parking their taxis around the monument at noon, causing gridlock, with traffic tailed back for several kilometres.

Cabbies' threat

The Taxi Community Radio Club announced that if the government refused to step down by 4pm, they would use 20,000 taxis to block all roads in Bangkok.

Doctors from hospitals in the vicinity of Victory Monument called for protesters to open at least one lane of traffic to facilitate medical services. The major hospitals in the area are Rajvithi, Ramathibodi, King Mongkut, Children's General and Phya Thai II.

Desperate commuters turned to the BTS which was soon overwhelmed by passengers. Staff solved the congestion by telling commuters to get straight on trains and pay the fares at their destination.

Quickly trapped

"Everything happened fast," said a bystander, speaking to The Nation from the scene. "When I got to Victory Monument in the early afternoon, there was no sign of trouble. All of a sudden, I'm trapped  I can't go anywhere."

Box:

Roads closed

As of yesterday afternoon, police have closed several main roads and warned motorists to avoid routes used for redshirt rallies.

The closed roads include Ratchawithi Road from Din Daeng intersection and Victory Monument to Tuek Chai intersection, Phaholyothin Road from the 2nd Cavalry Division (near Sanam Pao) to Victory Monument, and Phaya Thai Road from Phaya Thai intersection to Victory Monument.

Kamphaengphet V Road and Rama VI Road in front of Democrat Party headquarters have also been closed along with Rajdamneon Klang Road around the Democracy Monument.

How it |went down

12.30pm: Taxi drivers start blocking the inbound lane on Rajvithee Road, opposite Center One shopping mall, and later block inbound Phya Thai Road.

1pm: 500 protesters demonstrate outside the Democrat Party headquarters; 1,000 rally in front of Constitutional Court and 500 in front of the Foreign Ministry.

2.25pm: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrives in Pattaya for the Asean economic ministers' meeting.

2.50pm: 30 taxies paralyse traffic by blocking all four sides of the Tuek Chai Intersection near Victory Monument.

3.30pm: Protesters outside the residence of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda and the Foreign Ministry move to Victory Monument.

3.40pm: Abhisit leaves Pattaya.

4pm: Protesters block the expressway entrance near Victory Monument.

4.20pm: Abhisit stops off at the Nawamintra Maharajini Camp in Chon Buri for an urgent meeting.

5.09pm: Red shirt coleader Veera Musigapong issues a second statement attacking the government.

5.30pm: Protesters head for the Hua Lampong train station.

5.40pm: The red shirts relocate from the Royal Plaza to Democracy Monument on Rajdamnoen Avenue.

5.50 pm: A helicopter, in which Abhisit is believed to be a passenger, leaves the military camp for Bangkok.

6.40 pm: The helicopter arrives at the First Infantry Regiment on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.