New protests are quite likely to start up elsewhere in Bangkok or, more likely, in the reds' northern strongholds.

Yingluck has been in her Puea Thai Party's northern strongholds courting support while her credibility is attacked in Bangkok.

Security analysts warned his death could spark a scramble for power and an escalation of violence in the cartel's northern strongholds.

Islamist rebels mounted a counter-offensive in Mali yesterday, seizing a government-controlled town as French fighter jets continued to pound their northern strongholds.

Yet Mills, who has endorsements from more than half of the party's branches countrywide, including Volta and northern strongholds, is seen as favourite.

The government retakes control of the area but the protest leaders regroup and new demonstrations start elsewhere, especially in the red shirts' northern strongholds.

Security experts said the decapitation of the Zetas would likely spark a scramble for power and an increase in violence in the cartel's northern strongholds.

But heavy rains have prevented the army using helicopter gunships against the rebels, who were digging new fortifications along the frontlines of their northern strongholds.

The Houthis had broken out of their northern strongholds and seized control of the capital Sanaa in September, plunging Yemen into another bout of conflict.