A warning for British tourists to stay away from Thailand's capital remains in force as anti-government protests appear to be winding down.
Leaders of the demonstrations that plunged Bangkok into chaos over the past two days announced they were calling off their protests after combat troops surrounded their last stronghold.
After at least two people were killed and more than 100 injured during clashes between government forces and protesters, the UK government urged Britons not to travel to the capital.
About 2,000 diehard protesters have begun to abandon their encampment around Bangkok's seat of government.
Protest leader Jatuporn Phromphan said: "We have decided to call off the rally today because many brothers and sisters have been hurt and killed. We don't want everybody to suffer the same and we will not allow more deaths."
He added that the protesters, who are demanding the resignation of prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, "can come back and fight again. Democracy will not end today".
British tourists returning from Thailand on Monday spoke of mounting tensions in the country.
Tony McCarthy, 45, a window cleaner from the Tower Bridge area of London, arrived back at Heathrow after having been in Thailand for a month. He said: "I think it will get worse from now on. I think we left just in time."
Geraint Anderson, 36, author of the City Boy newspaper column, was also on a flight back to the UK.
Mr Anderson, of Shepherd's Bush, west London, said: "There was a lot of talk of the problems and there was tension in the air. We saw some fires in the roads and there was no traffic in the streets. But it was confused because of this new year's festival - people were chucking water at each other."
