Photo of the Day: Troops retreat from Ratchaprasong

It was all smiles and handshaking as security forces retreated from Ratchaprasong. Apparently was tense in the morning, but as I arrived at about 10:30 or 11, it was simply triumphant for the reds. The protesters near Ratchadamri formed a line around retreating troop (above) as they walked towards Lumpini Park. One of protesters was even hand-feeding candies to the troops (see photo below).

The only tense moments I witnessed were on Silom and near the seized military jeep and fire trucks. On Silom, as the reds arrived and traffic was halted, some motorists were furious and it seemed a couple were close to swerving into the protesters. At the site of the seized military jeep and fire trucks, including one mounted with the LRAD, there was some tension. The military official negotiating the release of the vehicles looked nervous and, uncharacteristically, one of the red shirt guards tried to stop me from photographing.