Bangkok , Thailand ( CNN ) -- Bangkok turned into a war zone Wednesday as Thai military forces cracked down on anti-government protesters , ending a tense standoff that has troubled the capital for weeks . The army surged into Lumpini Park , the area where Red Shirt demonstrators had amassed . Armored personnel carriers crushed bamboo and tire barricades ; the protesters hurled M79 grenades at soldiers . The May sky quickly turned black from thick smoke billowing from landmark buildings set ablaze . Finally , after hours of intense street battles , the Red Shirt leadership surrendered . The government imposed a strict curfew that barred people from going outside between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m . The chaotic day left at least five people dead as Bangkok residents endured an edgy and unsettled night . Thailand 's prime minister sought to calm public fears with a televised address in which he expressed confidence that peace would soon be restored . iReport : Are you there ? Send your images , video . `` I would like to give moral support to officers who are doing their duties now and would like to reassure you , '' Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told citizens . `` And I am confident that we can overcome all the problems and bring the country to a long-lasting peace . '' The government considered the demonstrators to be terrorists , and army Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that growing violence necessitated the use of force . He said soldiers were given the all-clear to fire if they faced a clear threat . iReport : Video sparks discussion . `` The terrorists have created further situations of violence by torching government and business buildings , '' Sansern said . `` It was therefore necessary for the police and military to put further pressure . '' He said the government had regained full control and Red Shirt leaders had fled or were taken into police custody . Seven anti-government protest leaders were taken into custody while several others fled , authorities said . iReport : Army running away . Lt. Gen. Daopong Ratanasuwan , the army 's deputy commander , estimated the number of protesters left on the streets late Wednesday had dwindled from 10,000 to about 3,000 . Timeline of Thailand 's political crisis . Many dispersed , and smaller riots erupted throughout the city . Witnesses reported a dozen buildings -- including a bank , a police station , a local television station and Thailand 's biggest shopping mall -- set ablaze . Hours after the large military operation got under way , soldiers took control of the park area . The Red Shirt leadership called off the protests , telling a crowd at the park that they wanted to avoid further bloodshed and wanted to turn themselves in . But it seemed as though the large group of protesters was not heeding that call . Sniper fire and explosions were heard after the leaders spoke of calling off the protests , said George McCleod , a witness and freelance journalist in the area . `` It is a live ammunition situation , and I expect a heavy death toll by the end of the day , '' he said . What are the protests about ? At least five people , including an Italian journalist , were listed as killed by the Police Hospital in Bangkok . Another 64 -- two journalists among them -- were wounded . One was Andrew Buncombe , Asia correspondent for the Independent newspaper in London , who was taken to the hospital with a leg injury that was not life-threatening . Officials asked protesters , residents and foreigners to head to a nearby stadium if they wanted to leave . Bangkok residents : 'This is a mini-civil war ' `` We Thai people never experienced this kind of situation before , '' said Sirinun Siripanich , the assistant secretary to the Bangkok governor . `` This is like a mini-civil war . '' The military operation was the government 's last stand against protests that paralyzed parts of Bangkok for months , Thai officials said . At least 40 people have been killed since clashes intensified Thursday . Trapped in Bangkok 's protest zone : Hunkering down . The prime minister 's office issued a statement blaming the crackdown on failed talks between the two sides . `` Negotiations failed because core [ opposition ] leaders are not to be able to make decisions by themselves , '' the statement said , alluding to an outside force influencing the protesters . `` [ We ] ask core leaders to stop the rally and surrender . '' The Red Shirt opposition members support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra , who was ousted in a bloodless 2006 military coup . They have been protesting for weeks , demanding that Abhisit dissolve parliament and call new elections . From his self-imposed exile abroad to avoid a trial on corruption charges , Thaksin released a statement Wednesday saying he was not the leader of the United Front for Democracy , the formal name of the Red Shirt opposition , and that their movement calling for new elections is not on his behalf . `` They did not demand anything for me or on my behalf . I am not UDD , '' he said . Thaksin also accused the Thai government of defaming him by saying he was the mastermind behind the violence in the country 's ongoing political crisis . `` I never approve nor agree to any use of violence , '' he said . `` I believe in peace . I love my country as much as any member of this government . I believe in peaceful and non-violent means to end conflict and reject any use of force . `` If there is any act of terrorism , it is the duty of this government to find the wrongdoer and prosecute them in the court of law . '' The violence prompted the United Nations ' top human rights official to implore anti-government protesters and government officials to resume talks . But on Wednesday in Bangkok , as bullets rang out , black plumes of smoke rose and soldiers crept forward toward a showdown , it seemed that the time for talking had passed . iReport : 7-11 at OnNut Looted/Bombed . CNN 's Dan Rivers , Sara Sidner , Kocha Olarn , Lateef Mungin and Miranda Leitsinger contributed to this report .
NEW : Some Red Shirt protesters surrender after days of street battles . At least 20 dead as security forces enter park held by protesters . Thai government imposes curfew between 5 p.m. and midnight PM PM Abhasit : ` ` I am confident we can bring the country to a long - lasting peace ''