BANGKOK (AP) — Hundreds of anti-government protesters have lined up to give blood in Thailand so it can be spilled in a protest.
It's part of a plan to splatter the Thai government headquarters in a symbolic sacrifice to press demands for new elections.
Protest leaders vowed to collect the equivalent of 1,000 standard soft drink bottles of blood to spill at Government House by Tuesday evening.
The Red Cross slammed the protest tactic as wasteful and unhygienic.
As many as 100,000 so-called Red Shirt protesters converged on the Thai capital Sunday. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (ah-PEE'-siht way-CHAH'-chee-wah) refused to dissolve parliament and blanketed the capital in security, but said his government was willing to listen.
The Red Shirts believe Abhisit came to power illegitimately.
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<<APPHOTO DLL102 (03/16/10)>>
: An unidentified Thai Buddhist monk shows his blood after making a blood donation Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders say they would collect "1 million cubic centimeters" of protesters' blood, or about 264 gallons (1,000 liters), to spill at Government House in the Thai capital by Tuesday evening.
<<APPHOTO DLL111 (03/16/10)>>
: "Red Shirt" demonstrators sleep Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Anti-government protesters started donating their own blood as part of a plan to splatter the Thai government headquarters in a symbolic sacrifice to press their demands for new elections. The Red Shirts include supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other activists who oppose the 2006 military coup that ousted him for alleged corruption and abuse of power.
<<APPHOTO DLL113 (03/16/10)>>
: A western tourist makes his way past Bangkok's Democracy Monument and past an anti-government demonstration staging area Tuesday, March 16, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Business leaders say the constant political turmoil continues to hurt the tourism industry as well as other areas.
<<APPHOTO DLL107 (03/16/10)>>
: Anti-government protesters know as "Red Shirts" wait in line to donate blood Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at a rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders say they will collect "1 million cubic centimeters"of blood, the equivalent of 1,000 standard soft drink bottles, to spill at Government House in the Thai capital by Tuesday evening. The Red Shirts include supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other activists who oppose the 2006 military coup that ousted him for alleged corruption and abuse of power.
<<APPHOTO DLL106 (03/16/10)>>
: "Red Shirt" demonstrators displays photos of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as they sign up to donate blood Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders say they will collect "1 million cubic centimeters" of protestors' blood, or about 264 gallons (1,000 liters), to spill at Government House in the Thai capital by Tuesday evening. The Red Shirts include supporters of Thaksin and other activists who oppose the 2006 military coup that ousted him for alleged corruption and abuse of power.
<<APPHOTO DLL104 (03/16/10)>>
: An unidentified Thai Buddhist monk shows his blood after making a blood donation Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders say they will collect "1 million cubic centimeters" of protesters' blood or about 264 gallons (1,000 liters), to spill at Government House in the Thai capital by Tuesday evening.
<<APPHOTO DLL105 (03/16/10)>>
: "Red Shirt" demonstrators sign up to donate blood Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders say they will collect "1 million cubic centimeters" of protesters' blood, or about 264 gallons (1,000 liters), to spill at Government House in the Thai capital by Tuesday evening. The Red Shirts include supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other activists who oppose the 2006 military coup that ousted him for alleged corruption and abuse of power.
<<APPHOTO DLL103 (03/16/10)>>
: An unidentified Thai anti-government demonstrator shows his blood after making a blood donation Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders say they would collect "1 million cubic centimeters" of protesters' blood, or about 264 gallons (1,000 liters), to spill at Government House in the Thai capital by Tuesday evening.
<<APPHOTO DLL102 (03/16/10)>>
: An unidentified Thai Buddhist monk shows his blood after making a blood donation Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders say they would collect "1 million cubic centimeters" of protesters' blood, or about 264 gallons (1,000 liters), to spill at Government House in the Thai capital by Tuesday evening.
<<APPHOTO DLL101 (03/16/10)>>
: An unidentified Thai woman donates her blood Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at an anti-government rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Protest leaders vowed to collect blood from tens of thousands of anti-government activists and splash it onto the Thai government headquarters in a symbolic sacrifice to press their demands for new elections. The Red Shirts include supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other activists who oppose the 2006 military coup that ousted him for alleged corruption and abuse of power.
