1/7Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, along with his family, arrive at Klai Kangwon Palace before a ceremony in celebration of the king's 86th birthday in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Dec. 5, 2013.
2/7Well-wishers wave flags next to a picture of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as they gather to celebrate his 86th birthday near Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Dec. 5, 2013.
3/7A child brings a candle to a Jewish cemetery at the former Terezin Nazi concentration camp in Terezin (Theresiendstadt ) during the ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland.
4/7Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej reads a statement at Klai Kangwon Palace during a ceremony in celebration of his 86th birthday in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Dec. 5, 2013. (Thailand's Royal Household Bureau)
5/7Thai royal guards march during a parade to celebrate Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 86th birthday at Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Dec. 5, 2013.
6/7Thai school boys celebrate King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 86th birthday, in Bangkok, Dec. 5, 2013.
7/7An elderly man listens to King Bhumibol Adulyadej make a speech on a giant screen, on the king's 86th birthday at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Dec. 5, 2013.
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Thailand's revered monarch called on the Thai people to "support each other for the sake of the country," during his annual birthday address to the nation.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who turns 86 Thursday, spoke as opposition protesters paused their efforts aimed at overthrowing the government.
The king, who was released from the hospital earlier this year after a four-year stay, spoke slowly as he read his address at his seaside palace in Hua Hin.
"All Thais should realize this point a lot and behave and perform our duties accordingly and our duty for the benefit of the public for stability and security for our nation of Thailand," he said.
Thai Protests Intensify in Bangkok
1/12An anti-government protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by riot police in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 1, 2013.
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
2/12An anti-government protester cleans his eyes with salt water solution after riot police fired tear gas to the protesters in Bangkok.
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
3/12Police line up to thwart any attempt to occupy their headquarters in Bangkok. (Steve Herman/VOA)
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
4/12An anti-government protester gets ready to throw back a tear gas canister fired by riot police in Bangkok.
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
5/12Anti-government protesters take cover during clashes with police near the Government house in Bangkok.
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
6/12Anti-government protesters use self-made barricade against the water cannons and tear gas fired by riot police in Bangkok.
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
7/12Police move behind their shields as they clash with anti-government protesters near the Government house in Bangkok.
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
8/12An anti-government protester atop a loudspeaker truck calling on the prime minister to "get out" in Bangkok. (Steve Herman/VOA)
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
9/12Police behind razor wire at their headquarters in Bangkok (Steve Herman/VOA)
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
10/12Those protesting want to rid the country of what they say is the lingering influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. (Steve Herman/VOA)
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
11/12A crowd listening to an anti-government speech at and above a major Bangkok intersection (Steve Herman/VOA)
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
12/12Tens of thousands take to Bangkok's streets demanding the prime minister's ouster. (Steve Herman/VOA)
Thai police in the capital, Bangkok, use tear gas and water cannons against protesters who have mounted a drive to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tensions are high and security is tight after at least three people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in political violence that began overnight.
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The weeks-old protests were stopped out of respect for the monarch, who is widely revered as a unifying figure in the politically polarized nation.
Nonetheless, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban pledged to continue the fight Friday, vowing to not back down until Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resigns and turns over control to an unelected council.
"Tomorrow, the people's movement will continue in order to eradicate the Thaksin regime from Thailand and return the power to the people," said Suthep.
Fears of widespread violence were raised late last week when at least four people were killed and scores wounded in the protests.
However, tensions eased Tuesday after police backed down, saying they had been ordered to avoid confrontation with the protesters, whose strategy is to occupy government buildings.
The conflict pits Bangkok's urban middle class and royalist elite against the mostly poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and her billionaire brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister ousted in a 2006 military coup.
The latest demonstrations were triggered several weeks ago by an amnesty bill that would have allowed Thaksin to return home and avoid a two-year jail term for corruption. The Senate rejected the bill but protests have continued.
Many opposition members feel Yingluck is doing the bidding of her exiled brother, despite her insistence that this is not the case.
