Protesters have occupied Thailand's seat of government for six weeks, demanding the resignation of governments they say are proxies for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Military leaders ousted Thaksin in a 2006 coup, accusing him of corruption. A look at recent events:

- Aug 26 - Anti-government protesters scale the fences surrounding Government House, the prime minister's office compound, vowing to occupy it until Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej'sgovernment resigns. Police with riot gear raid the compound but back off when challenged.

- Sept 2 - Mr Samak declares a state of emergency after his supporters scuffle with protesters. One government supporter dies from a head injury suffered in the clash.

- Sept 9 - The Constitutional Court removes Mr Samak from office, saying his appearance on a TV cooking show while in office constitutes a conflict of interest.

- Sept 12 - Mr Samak says he will not seek reinstatement as prime minister; he later resigns as leader of the People's Power Party.

- Sept 14 - The state of emergency is lifted.

- Sept 17 - Parliament elects Mr Somchai Wongsawat prime minister. Protesters say Somchai is also Mr Thaksin's puppet, and they say they will stay at Government House until a prime minister they approve of is chosen.

- Oct 6 - Protesters surround Parliament in hopes of preventing lawmakers from entering the building for Somchai's speech the next day.

- Oct 7 - Violence erupts when police clear the streets around Parliament to allow in lawmakers, and clashes between protesters and police persist throughout the day. At least one woman is killed in the fighting and a second dies in an unexplained explosion. Hundreds are injured. -- AP