BANGKOK (Reuters) - Lawmakers in Thailand debated a political amnesty bill on Wednesday as anti-government protesters demanded it be scrapped because they say it will help exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra return home a free man.
Despite fears of a re-run of the violence that has marred Thai politics since 2006, the demonstration by the main opposition party was mostly peaceful and many of the estimated 2,500 protesters heeded a call by their leaders to disperse after police refused to let them approach parliament.