Rival groups face off on Bangkok streets

At least 10,000 Thai protesters marched to the prime minister's office yesterday demanding he stepped down, while thousands of royalist supporters also turned out in their biggest showing since anti-government demonstrations began three months ago. 

The two camps gathered face-to-face at Bangkok's Democracy Monument, which has become a focal point for the protests. They kept apart barring some brief scuffles, but the standoff was an uncomfortable reminder of a decade of street violence between supporters and opponents of the establishment that ended in a coup in 2014.

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Meanwhile, thousands of yellow-clad supporters of King Maha Vajiralongkorn lined the streets to catch a rare glimpse of the monarch as his motorcade drove through Bangkok.

One royalist leader, Buddha Issara, said the protesters could demand democracy but must not call for reforms of the monarchy, as some have done.

"They must not touch the institution," he told reporters.