Leaders of the anti-government protests that have paralysed the heart of Bangkok for weeks have surrendered, after troops stormed their barricades.

At least five people have been killed in the latest clashes in the Thai capital and the protest leaders said they did not want anyone else to die.

Before giving themselves up, the leaders urged protesters not to give up the fight for political change.

Sporadic pockets of resistance remained.

Reports from the scene say the main protest stage area is empty.

But there are still groups of protesters facing troops at a key point to the south of the main camp and it is not clear if all of the protesters support their leaders' decision.

Before he was led away, Jatuporn Prompan said from the stage: "I apologise to you all, but I don't want any more losses. I am devastated too," reports news agency Reuters.

Another leader, Nattawuk Saikua, also urged supporters to give up.

Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd described them as "terrorist leaders".

Another military spokesman announced that several thousand protesters were leaving the rally zone.

He said they would be assisted in returning home ; many of the demonstrators come from rural areas.

However, as the red-shirt leaders surrendered, angry protesters set fire to a shopping mall and there were reports of small-scale looting.

Meanwhile, two soldiers and a journalist were wounded when grenades exploded nearby.

As helicopters circled overhead, Thai soldiers with armoured vehicles stormed the barricaded camp early on Wednesday.

The military warned of the imminent operation on loudspeakers, before moving in.

An Italian photojournalist was among the dead and dozens were wounded as demonstrators and army units exchanged fire.

"This is D-Day," one soldier was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

Troops armed with M-16 rifles marched through the central business district, as thick black smoke from mountains of burning tyres billowed over skyscrapers.

They stormed the Lumpini Park area, where demonstrators fled, leaving smouldering fires, scattered shoes and overturned chairs.

The BBC'S Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says black-clad gunman, who appear to be well-trained, have been spotted behind the protesters' lines.

It is not clear whether they will continue to hold out.

Thai government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said: "The Royal Thai government would like to inform you that our security operations to secure the perimeter around Bangkok, especially in Lumpini Park, have been successful."

The violence follows six days of clashes around the camp, triggered by a government operation to seal the area and the subsequent death of renegade general who backed the protests.

About 40 people have been killed since last week.

The red-shirts have been protesting in Bangkok since 14 March, occupying the shopping district, forcing hotels and shops to close.

They are a loose coalition of left-wing activists, democracy campaigners and mainly rural supporters of Mr Thaksin, who has lived overseas since he was convicted of conflict of interest.

They are demanding fresh polls because they say the government - which came to power through a parliamentary deal rather than an election - is illegitimate.

Source BBC