Thai police remove 100 protesters from rally site

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai police have detained and removed about 100 anti-government protesters who were camped out near a government ministry in Bangkok.

It's a sign that the government is taking steps to clear out demonstrators who have been blocking access to some government offices since late last year in an attempt to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from power.

Protest leader Rawee Matchamadon said Tuesday that police rounded up about 100 demonstrators outside the Energy Ministry, north of the city. They were taken away in police trucks for questioning at a police base, Rawee said.

Live footage on Tnews cable television showed no resistance from the protesters during the operation.

The government's special security command announced Monday that it would reclaim five protest sites around the city.