Thai Protesters Give Blood for Anti-Government Demo

Thailand's red-shirt demonstrators are donating blood to throw at government offices in a symbolic protest against a leadership they say is illegitimate, reports BBC News.

The protests are now in their third day, in a jovial but determined mood.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday rejected a demand from protesters to quit and call elections.

The stand-off is the latest in a deep political schism in the country linked to the 2006 military coup which deposed former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

Local newspapers have reported that protests were also being held in several northern provinces to coincide with the Bangkok actions.

In Bangkok, red-shirt leader Veera Musikapong was the first to donate.

"This blood is a sacrificial offering. To show our love for the nation, to show our sincerity," he said.

He and other leaders said their blood would be spilled at the entrance to Government House in Bangkok's historic quarter later in the day if Abhisit continued to refuse their demands to dissolve parliament.

The protesters say the present government was installed illegally after Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006, and two subsequent allied governments were deposed by court action.

On Sunday they held a mass rally in central Bangkok. They are now camped out around Government House.