The Thai authorities have restored order across the country, Premier Abhisit said in a televised address on Friday. "We will continue to swiftly restore normalcy," he said.

Violence and unrest erupted in Bangkok last week after thousands of anti-government protesters also known as the Red Shirts refused to leave their rally site in central Bangkok that they had occupied since April 3, prompting the government to send in the army to disperse them.

The Red Shirts' leaders surrendered eventually and are now in police custody. A criminal court has refused to grant bail to any of them and their dozens of supporters.

Cost of mayhem

But the cost of the military operation was high. The mayhem led to some of the worst rioting and fires in Bangkok ever, leaving at least 52 people dead and more than 400 injured. Some of the capital's key buildings suffered huge amounts of damage following arson attacks. The authorities have extended a night-time curfew in Bangkok and 23 other provinces until Sunday to contain further conflict.

On Friday, PM Abhisit vowed an independent probe into "all events" surrounding the protests, but he insisted the military operation was within the law.

In his speech he also tried to reach out to the whole nation. "We all live in the same house. Now, our house has been damaged. We have to help each other," he said.

Roadmap for reconciliation

Mr Abhisit acknowledged that there were "huge challenges ahead particularly the challenge of overcoming the divisions that have occurred in the country" and maintained that he would work for national reconciliation.

"Let me reassure you that this government will meet these challenges and overcome these difficulties through the five-point reconciliation plan that I had previously announced," said Abhisit. The 'roadmap', first announced earlier this month, offers political and economic reforms to reduce the social divisions in Thai society.

But he didn't make it clear if he would hold new elections, a key demand of the Red Shirts. Before the latest violence, Abhisit had offered polls in November, but he withdrew the offer when the Red Shirts refused to end their protests. The Red Shirts consider Abhisit's government as illegitimate. They say it lacks popular mandate, as it came to power with the backing of the army in a parliamentary vote in 2008.

du/dpa/AFP/AP/Reuters
Editor: Thomas Baerthlein