Bankok: Anti-government demonstrators officially handed over Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi international airport to authorities on Wednesday after an eight-day siege, a protest leader said.
"Major General Chamlong had a handover ceremony of the airport to Airports of Thailand at 9:00am (0200 GMT)," said protest leader Somkiat Pongpaibul, referring to People's Alliance for Democracy co-founder Chamlong Srimuang.
"From now the protesters will start to leave. Some of them have started to leave since this morning and gone home. We will come back when the nation needs us," he added.
Chamlong hugged and shook hands with Airports of Thailand (AOT) boss Vudhibhandhu Vichairatana, witnesses said, before bowing down and paying his respects in front of a portrait of the king.
"I and other leaders and the protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy feel really glad to show loyalty to His Majesty," Chamlong said, as supporters chanted "Long Live the King."
He then left the terminal, witnesses said.
An AFP reporter at the scene said that a few PAD trucks remained at the airport, but most of the thousands of protesters who had camped out at the two-year-old terminal since last Tuesday had trickled out.
PAD supporters have also promised to leave the smaller domestic airport Don Mueang, which they seized last week in their bid to topple the elected government because of its links to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
An AOT official said that hundreds of PAD supporters began leaving the domestic terminal Wednesday morning, and said she hoped officials would be able to assess the airport at about midday.
She said it would be up and running again "as soon as possible", but gave no time-frame.
The PAD agreed to give up the two blockades after a court on Tuesday dissolved the ruling People Power Party and two of its coalition partners because of vote fraud, and forced premier Somchai Wongsawat from office.
