Those arrested include the spokesman and the head of the People's Alliance for Democracy, who promise to continue their political struggle until the government resigns. The former head of the army affirms that "an army coup" is the only way out of the crisis.

Bangkok (AsianNews/Agencies) - The leaders of the protest in Thailand have been set free on bail, and can now continue their battle aimed at obtaining the resignation of all members of the current government. The dissidents surrendered to police this morning, who arrested them under the accusation of "fostering revolt," but they were released after paying bail.

They have had the charge of "treason" dropped, but they still face charges of "illegal assembly" and "incitement" to violence, for which they face imprisonment. "Everything is fine, there is no detention," said Sondhi Limthongkul, head of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), at the moment of leaving the central police station in Bangkok together with seven other activists.

The demonstrators continue to occupy the areas around parliament, and welcomed joyfully the news of the release of the activists. In addition to the leader of the PAD, Sondhi Limthongkul, the spokesman of the group, Suriyasai Katasila, the activist Pibhop Dhongchai, and labor union leader Somsak Kosaisuk were also set free. Two other prominent opposition figures, Chamlong Srimuang and Chaiwat Sinsuwong, arrested last week, were released yesterday.

There is growing solidarity in the country for the dissidents, while controversy is spreading over the methods used by the police to quell protests last Tuesday, during which two were killed and 443 injured. Police sources, backed up by some of the press outlets and eyewitnesses, say instead that the demonstrators attacked security forces with pistols, iron bars, machetes, and Molotov cocktails. Twenty police officers are hospitalized with serious injuries.

The situation could deteriorate soon, and a military coup cannot be ruled out. In an interview published today on the front page of the Bangkok Post, the former prime minister and head of the army, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh - who resigned on Tuesday, after the bloody suppression of the revolt - maintains that "a military coup is the only valid solution" for emerging from the crisis. He affirms that power would then be given to an "interim government" that would steer the country toward new elections.

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