Why did the protesters spill blood in front of the prime minister’s office?

Anti-government protesters in Thailand have spilt their own blood in front of the prime minister’s office in Bangkok to demand new elections. Wearing their red-shirts, the protesters poured 300 liters of blood from plastic jugs at the gates of government house today. The blood was drawn from protesters loyal to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who is popular among Thailand’s poor and rural population. The activists want Thailand’s current leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and to call new elections. Mr. Abhisit has rejected the demands.