The red-shirts control important intersections of the capital Thai opposition protesters have been parading coffins through Bangkok in protest at the weekend violence which left 21 people dead. Most of the them were empty, but at least two contained the bodies of demonstrators killed in clashes with the security forces. As the procession of coffins began, reports suggested PM Abhisit Vejjajiva was considering calling early polls. Early elections is one of the demands of the anti-government protesters. But the red-shirted protesters want Mr Abhisit's immediate resignation. The red-shirts still control important intersections in the city and are increasingly confident after withstanding the security forces' attempt to move them back, the BBC's Quentin Somerville reports from Bangkok. There was little sign of renewed clashes in the city on Monday, with shops re-opening and the rail network running again. But despite the calm on the streets, there is little sign of Thailand's deep political conflict being solved any time soon, our correspondent says. 'Murderers' Most of the 21 people killed on Saturday were civilians. About 800 people were also injured. Both sides accuse each other of firing live bullets during the confrontation. Jatuporn Prompan, one of the red-shirts' leaders, told a rally that Mr Abhisit's hands were "bloodied" by the clashes. "Red-shirts will never negotiate with murderers," he announced from a makeshift stage. "Although the road is rough and full of obstacles, it's our duty to honour the dead by bringing democracy to this country." The red-shirts - a loose coalition of left-wing activists and supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - say Mr Abhisit came to power illegitimately in a parliamentary vote after a pro-Thaksin government was forced to step down in 2008. Mr Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006. They have vowed to defy the state of emergency declared last Wednesday with more rallies. Arrest warrants have been issued for several of the protest leaders. Unconfirmed reports in local newspapers on Monday said political parties in the coalition government were pressuring Mr Abhisit to compromise with the protesters by dissolving parliament in the next six months instead of by the end of the year, as he had earlier promised.
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Remembering the dead, April 11th 2010.
In a televised statement on Monday, Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva blamed the loss of life last Saturday in Bangkok on armed terrorists who had infiltrated the Red Shirt protesters. He added that the security forces had opened fire only when fired upon.

The Prime Minister's statement came as he was suffering a double blow to his authority. As coffins draped in Thai flags paraded through Bangkok to symbolise the death of democracy, Thailand's electoral commission ruled that Vejjajiva's Democrat Party should disband. In addition, the chief of the Thai Army, General Anupong Paojinda, publicly called for the dissolution of parliament.

Despite pressure from the Vejjajiva administration, the Thai Army, which traditionally has been politically significant in the country, has been reluctant to use force against the protesters, and will become even more so following what will be seen as innocent blood on its hands. 

Even though Vejjajiva has stated that the government and military remain united, without the unequivocal support of the Thai military and security forces, his administration has very little room for maneuver.

Ironically, Vejjajiva may be saved from having to concede to the Red Shirts' demands for fresh elections through the same process that deposed his predecessor and led to his own rise to the premiership. A court has ruled that Vejjajiva's Democrat Party accepted 
258 million baht in illegal campaign donations from cement maker TPI Polene. Under Thai law, the courts have the power to dissolve any party ruled to have broken electoral laws and to ban its members from public office for five years. This is the same law that in 2008 resulted in the disbanding of the People's Power Party and the removal of Somchai Wongsawat from office. Leaders from both sides of the political divide have welcomed this development as a way to resolve the current deadlock.

However political commentators note that even with fresh elections the impasse that led to what is now known as ''Black Saturday'' would not end. Thai society has become increasingly polarised into pro-Thaksin Shinawatra and anti-Thaksin Shinawatra camps, and neither side will be willing to see the other side in power whatever the results of elections. 

The violence on April 10, 2010, the worst for 20 years, saw the death of 21 people, four soldiers and sixteen civilians, including Reuters reporter Hiroyuki Muramoto.