Police has said that thousands of Red Shirt protesters Monday ignored a government demand they cede the downtown Bangkok territory they've held since March.

The Bangkok Nation reported, quoting a hospital spokesman, that the stalemate continued after a renegade general supporting the protesters died of a bullet wound, officials said. Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol, also known as Seh Daeng, died at Vajira Hospital Monday of a head wound from a sniper bullet suffered last week.

The Bangkok Post has reported that police Maj. Gen. Prawut Thawornsiri said about 5,000 protesters were still in the Ratchaprason district during the evening, well past a 3 p. m. deadline set by the Thai government, which has threatened them with two-year jail terms for violating the order.

Military helicopters dropped leaflets on the protesters' position shortly after 2 p. m., the newspaper said. The Post also said that the protesters responded by shooting homemade rockets at the aircraft.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn was quoted as saying on the Thai PBS television network, "Some protesters received distorted information. We need to communicate with them clearly. It will take time."

Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the government was trying to protect civilians caught in the middle, CNN has reported.

Panitan said, "Our objective is to secure the area, to prevent the elements that have weapons of war to attack the officers and attack the people."

It was further reported that nine more people died Sunday in clashes between protesters and Thai troops and security forces, who for nearly a week have been trying to reclaim the capital's main business district where the protesters, wearing red shirts, have been encamped since their demonstration began in March. (With inputs from Agencies)