Riot police are pulling back from the compound around Government House, where they have been surrounding the occupying protesters since Tuesday, according to local sources.

The protesters, who appear to have some powerful and wealthy backers, are demanding that the government resign. They accuse Mr Samak of being a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and is now in exile despite facing trial over corruption charges.

The protests began on Tuesday, when more than 30,000 people took to the streets in a well-coordinated action.

The demonstrations have been organised by a group calling itself the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - formed three years ago as a movement to bring down Mr Thaksin.