| 13 October 2008 |
Thailand's Queen Sirikit made a rare public appearance Monday at the funeral of a female protester killed in clashes last week with police.Anti-government protesters walk past a portrait of Thai Queen Sirikit on the grounds of the government house complex which the protesters have been occupying for more than a month Monday, 13 Oct. 2008 in Bangkok
The father of the 28-year-old woman says Queen Sirikit told him that his daughter had died in a noble cause.
The woman's father also said Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej donated more than $29,000 to help treat those injured during the protests.
Two people were killed and more than 400 injured during the clashes last week, the worst street violence in the capital in 16 years.
Queen Sirikit spent less than an hour at the funeral and was greeted by cheers of "long live the queen!"
Opposition activists at the funeral saw her appearance as a sign of the monarchy's support.
The opposition People's Alliance for Democracy has been occupying government offices for weeks, demanding that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat step down because of his links to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mr. Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law.
Protesters draped themselves in the yellow shirts and scarves - the color associated with the king - and said they are loyal to the monarchy.
When tanks rolled into the streets in September 2006 and ousted Mr. Thaksin in a bloodless military coup, the military said it was protecting the monarchy.
A government spokesman said Mr. Somchai is scheduled to brief King Bhumibol Monday on the country's current political situation.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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