After Fighting, Bangkok Cleans Up

Thai soldiers stand guard in front of Thailand's biggest shopping mall in Bangkok.

Life is set to start returning to normal in the Thai capital Bangkok after last week's street fighting which left the city center badly damaged.

City authorities launched a massive clean-up operation in the commercial district on May 23 as the city prepared for the resumption of business on May 24.

Financial markets, government offices, and schools will reopen after closing as Bangkok became engulfed in a wave of arson and street battles when the army dispersed thousands of antigovernment protesters.

Almost 40 major buildings in the city were set on fire and the tourism and retail sectors have been devastated.

complied from agency reports