In Thailand, thousands of anti-government protesters in Bangkok defied a deadline to leave their fortified encampment today, despite a threat of a crackdown. <br/><br/>An army aircraft flew over the area and dropped leaflets warning protesters that they had time till this evening to evacuate their position in the center of the capital. Authorities say those who stay face two years in prison. <br/><br/>Thai authorities say that since fighting erupted on Thursday, at least 36 people have been killed, including a rogue army general who worked with the Red Shirts. <br/><br/>Major General Khattiya Sawasdiphol was shot in the head by a sniper onThursday and died of his wounds today. Another 232 people have been wounded. <br/><br/><br/>Heavy gunfire and explosions echoed late into the night yesterday outside a group of the city's luxury hotels, many of which border the barricaded protest zone. Isolated gunfire was heard in the Thai capital today. <br/><br/>The Thai government yesterday rejected calls by the Red Shirts for U.N.-mediated talks to end four days of deadly battles.<br/><br/>The Red Shirts, many of them are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, demand early elections to replace the present, they say, illegitimate government.<br/>