It has been reported that the Bangkok Post, in an editorial Tuesday, condemned the anti-government protest in Thailand for the violence and disruption of life in Bangkok.

The Red Shirt protesters' demonstrations since March, demanding the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and new elections, showed no sign of ending Tuesday. Escalating clashes between them and Thai security forces have left dozens dead and injured.

Abhisit faces a fair share of criticism at home and abroad for his decision to contain the protest at Bangkok's business district by force, the Post editorial said.

It further said, "But the blame for the violence, the closure of schools, the end of normal life in Bangkok falls squarely on the shoulders of the leaders of the Red Shirts. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has failed its followers, and all Thais," the editorial said, adding the Red Shirts "deserve to be condemned for suborning, encouraging and now supporting deadly violence without reason or justification."

Abhisit at least had a plan which included a call for elections Nov. 14, and said his plan was open to discussion and even offered amnesty for acts of political dissidence, the editorial also said.

The editorial further added that the UDD leaders, thinking they could achieve victory, proceeded to fabricate self-serving demands that caused the government to withdraw its election offer and "events deteriorated until going murderously out of control."

The newspaper said, "If the UDD leaders have a shred of honor, they will lift their protest and approach the prime minister to negotiate an election date."(With Inputs from Agencies)