Thai "Red Shirt" protesters gather at a rally site in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on May 15, 2010. The intense political situation has continued in Bangkok on Saturday. The death toll from a series of clashes between troops and the anti-government protesters rose to 16 while another 157 were injured. [Xinhua/Thana Nuntavoranut]

It is necessary for the Thai government to keep on with military operation to end "red-shirt" protesters' prolonged rally in central Bangkok in order to restore normalcy, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in a televised address on Saturday night.

Some 24 people have been killed and 211 others wounded since clashes between troops and the protesters broke out Thursday night, the Erawan's Bangkok Emergency Medical Service Center told Xinhua.

The Thai government was deeply saddened by the casualties, Abhisit told the nation.

However, "I insist that what the government is doing now is necessary for the national interest. And this is the the only way to restore normalcy," Abhisit said.

The troops started to seal off the "red-shirts" fortified encampment late on Thursday, prompting clashes in which Khattiya Sawasdipol, chief military adviser to the protesters, was admitted to hospital after being shot in the head.

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