Thailand says crackdown will last entire day

The Thai government says an operation launched at daybreak to clear protesters from their barricaded encampment in downtown Bangkok will last throughout the day.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn says Wednesday's operation is designed "to secure the parameter in several locations in Bangkok."

Panitan appeared on television several hours after the crackdown started.

Armored vehicles and soldiers converged on the protest encampment and have broken through a section of tire-and-bamboo barricade. Continuous gunfire is being heard from the area.

Senator Lertrat Rattavanich on Wednesday called off the Senate's involvement in the mediation to mend fences between the government and the red shirts.

"I will not today convey the message from the red shirts to the government because it is too late as decision has been made to disperse the protesters," he said as quoted by Thai English language newspaper The Nation.

Lertrat said the government might have no other option but to use force to disband the rally site after giving the red shirts plenty of time to end their protests.