Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva signed a decree on Wednesday imposing a curfew in Bangkok following anti-government protests in the capital.
The decree forbids citizens of the capital from leaving their homes for 10 hours from 20.00 local time (13.00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Riots had been ongoing in Thailand since March 14. Protesters demanded the dissolution of parliament and early elections.
At least 39 people have been killed and more than 300 people wounded in the latest seven days of clashes in Bangkok.
MILITARY OPERATION IN BANGKOK
Abhisit rejected on Tuesday an unconditional offer from the protesters to negotiate and insisted there would be no talks until the dwindling anti-government movement abandoned its encampment in Bangkok's up market Rajprasong district, where it has been since April.
The government estimated that only 3,000 people remained in the encampment, down from 5,000 on Sunday and 10,000 last week.
Later on Tuesday, government troops stormed the encampment in an assault operation that killed at least three demonstrators and an Italian journalist.
The leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) said he was prepared to stay with the opposition and die with them.
"If you are set out to stay here and wait for the militants to come to kill you, I will stay with you and die with you," Natthawut Saikua said.
Saikua's speech was delivered from Bangkok's Rajprasong square by the only operating opposition radio station.
RED SHIRTS SURRENDER
Seven so-called red shirt leaders from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Wednesday announced at a rally their decision to surrendered to police to avoid further bloodshed.
Four of the leaders then gave themselves in at the country's national police headquarters, 300 meters from where the meeting took place.
BANGKOK, May 19 (RIA Novosti)
