Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday afternoon the tension caused by anti-government protesters has been eased, and the retreat of the red-shirted people does not mean a victory or loss of any side, but a victory of society, since normalcy has returned.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva walks in the interior ministry after a news conference in Bangkok April 12, 2009.[Xinhua]

However, the emergency decree can not be immediately lifted in order to facilitate the security forces to fully restore stability as soon as possible, the premier said, without mentioning the exact timing for the state of emergency to be lifted.

His remarks came after Natthawut Saikua, Veera Musigapong and Suporn Atthawong, leaders of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), headed to Bangkok Metropolitan Police head office around 11:20 a.m. local time Tuesday to surrender.

Veera told protesters at the Government House to disperse and said the voluntarily dispersing did not mean a failure of the red-shirted movement but an attempt to protect the life of the protesters.

Supporters of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra aboard a truck leave the Government House area in Bangkok April 14, 2009. [Xinhua]

The protesters' retreat following Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd's TV address that the army was prepared to disperse the protesters at the Government House, ready to shooting into air, if necessary.