Red Shirts begin the long trek home after the rout

Latest pictures: Smouldering ruins in central Bangkok

An uneasy peace held in the capital although there were still small pockets of resistance. Central World, one of the biggest shopping malls in the world, burned late into the night because, said authorities, Red Shirt snipers shot at firemen. Much of the area is a burnt-out shell.

British businessman Philip Alexander, from Seaford in East Sussex, whose offices on the 26th floor were slightly damaged, called it "a tragedy".

Mr Alexander, who runs a property firm, said: "It will take a year to restore confidence in tourism here and as for property investment, three of our biggest clients have put all plans here on hold."

In the last two months he spoke often to the Red Shirts, even though his office was closed.

"The majority are middle aged and nice and easy to talk to. But of course I do not talk politics. There would be no point in arguing and it is their country, besides there is the question of rote'."

Rote is often used in connection with the education system, in which pupils learn facts and figures by rote, but are not taught to think laterally, or to question what they are taught: "Four legs good. Two legs bad."

For the last two months from the stage in their Bangkok camp the protesters have been shouting: "Abhisit Get Out", "Abhisit is a murderer" and "Thaksin has a good heart", referring to the current prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his predecessor, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in 2006.

Mr Thaksin had courted the people from the north-east, given them an almost free health scheme, and easy loans. In return they gave him their vote. They loved him when he bought Manchester City FC, which almost raised him to the level of deity. Mr Abhisit has quietly been strengthening the economy, even introducing a state pension scheme. Until last month, when troops began to fire on the protesters, there has been little anybody could insult him for.

Mr Thaksin became famous for saying: "Democracy western style is not suitable for Thailand", whereas Mr Abhisit, while a student at Oxford, demonstrated against Margaret Thatcher.

Mr Abhisit hopes the country will adopt his road map to greater equality. If not, Thailand may see more of the guerrilla warfare predicted by the former boss of Manchester City.