Update | Thailand’s protest leader plans to occupy symbolic seat of power

Emboldened by the removal of Thailand's prime minister, anti-government protesters withdrew from Bangkok's main park yesterday and marched to the vacated prime minister's office compound - where the protest leader has pledged to set up his new office.

Meanwhile, the new caretaker leader hosted his first formal news conference with foreign media at a makeshift, suburban outpost that has been the government base for months. He shrugged off the protesters' plans to occupy the symbolic seat of power.

"We do not want violence or any problems," said acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan, defending the government's hands-off approach as good crisis management.

Niwatthamrong also reiterated calls for a July election and said he and his cabinet were committed to finding a peaceful solution to Thailand's deepening political crisis.

Yesterday's developments highlighted the government's lack of power as the crisis grinds into its seventh month. One newspaper compared the situation to a sinking ship that it called the "Thaitanic".