TRAGIC scenes of bodies being returned to mourning families were screened on Thai television today. Acting government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn appeared on national television to say in English that all soldiers had returned to their barracks. The officers will be ''ready for new operations if necessary.'' The government was willing to have red shirt representatives join the process of establishing the truth of all deaths. No live ammunition had been used by soldiers, he said, but tear gas and grenades had been used against them. He said four soldiers were dead and 90 of more than 200 injured remained in a serious condition.



PHUKET red shirts have cancelled a plan to reinforce the demonstrators in Bangkok by busing more protesters north from the island today. The decision came at the eleventh hour, within 30 minutes of the planned trip north.

It came as authorities announced the 20th death in the Bangkok bloodbath. Red-shirt leaders have since revealed their gory plan to carry 14 red-colored coffins through the streets on the national capital tomorrow, the day before Thailand celebrates its Songkran New Year.

Bangkok and most places in northern Thailand have opted not to mark Songkran this year but celebrations are expected in Phuket and most southern provinces, largely because there is only a small red presence in the south.

Phuket red leader Suntorn Teoma told Phuketwan that one of the bodies of the victims had already been installed on-stage at the ''red central'' hq near a bridge in Bangkok. Another body was collected from a hospital about 1am.

The permission of relatives would be required to retrieve all the bodies.

Khun Suntorn said today that protesters had retaken the Thaicom television station.

Thaksin Shinawatra has reportedly told the red shirts, who initiated their campaign on March 12 in support of the fugutive former PM, that it is up to the red shirt leaders to decide whether they wish to continue their protest or go home.

The red-shirt leaders are believed to have rejected the opportunity to hold negotiations with government officials today.

In a nationally televised speech about 11.30pm last night, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said provincial governors throughout the country should ensure that people were not travelling to Bangkok to incite more problems.

He said he was sorry for the deaths and the injuries, but the growing violence of the red protest had left him with no choice but to send in troops and police about 8pm yesterday.