Anti-government protesters have declared victory against Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra after the authorities removed barricades in the police compound in Bangkok welcoming the demonstrators.

Waving Thai flags and blowing whistles, the anti-government protesters walked in through barricades and to the lawn.

The police chief told his men not to use force against the protesters even if they enter and destroy the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) compound.

In the last two days, riot police tried to repel them using tear gas and water cannons from the Government House, where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra holds office.

Four people have so far been killed during the agitation, two of them shot dead. Neither the police nor the protesters were seen armed during the protests, which remained largely peaceful till last weekend, as the blame fell on a third party or a fringe group.

Earlier, the Thai government said it had ordered police confronting anti-government protesters to stand down to avoid violence in the worst political violence to hit the country since 2010.

A police spokesman said in a televised address they still had control over Government House and also the Metropolitan Police Headquarters.

Presented by Adam Justice

Read more: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/thailand-protests-bangkok-yingluck-shinawatra-suthep-thaugsuban-526950