Satit Wongnongtaey, a minister in the prime minister's office, told a news conference that the government and security forces had anticipated "aftershocks" from the more-militant fringes of the Red Shirt movement. "Abhisit still has to hold elections by next year, and he could be under pressure still to do it earlier, by his original November offer," said Paul Handley, the author of a biography of Thailand's king. Their failure to secure their goal is adding to their anger. Continued security concerns led officials to extend a nighttime curfew in Bangkok and 23 other provinces for three more days. On March 12, tens of thousands of demonstrators began flowing into the Thai capital to push their demand for new elections.
– Seven Thai protest leaders surrendered in Bangkok today and called off their uprising, but Bangkok continued to erupt in violence as Red Shirts torched buildings, including the Thai stock exchange, a TV station, a utility company, and shopping malls. Leaders surrendered after troops stormed a protest encampment, killing at least 5, including an Italian news photographer. A military commander called the situation "under control," as explosions continued and smoke engulfed the commercial center of Bangkok, reports the Wall Street Journal. The unrest spread to northeast Thailand, where protesters stormed a town hall complex in the city of Udon Thani, reports MSNBC. The 7 men, called "terrorist leaders" by government officials, said they were surrendering to end the bloodshed, reports AP. "I apologize to you all but I don't want any more losses. I am devastated," leader Jatuporn Prompan told protesters shortly before his arrest. "We will surrender."