Protesters block police at Thai airport

Protesters beat back an attempt by police Saturday to stop more demonstrators from joining the occupation of the main airport in Bangkok.

About 100 officers retreated, leaving behind nine vans, CNN reported.

The occupation of Suvarnabhumi International Airport began Tuesday, and protesters have also taken over the city's second major airport. They have used luggage trolleys and razor wire to block entrance roads and let the air out of the tires of the police vehicles, adding them to the barricade.

Police officials said that they were open to negotiations with the protesters in an effort to end the standoff, The New York Times reported.

We are ready to talk, Lt. Gen. Chalong Somjai said in a news conference at a police station on the outskirts of the international airport. We are trying to bring this to a peaceful conclusion.

The People's Alliance for Democracy, which is heading the protests, has said the airport occupation will continue until Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his government resign. The prime minister left the capital for the northern city of Chiang Mai on Wednesday.