Thai Protests Put on Hold For King's Birthday

King Bhumibol Adulyadej is turning 86

The upheaval in Thailand was temporarily suspended Thursday as the country marked its revered 86-year-old king's birthday, but anti-government protesters have vowed to pick up where they left off.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave a customary birthday address from his palace in the coastal palace in Hua Hin that invoked public duty — but did not directly address the ongoing standoff between the ruling government and the opposition that intensified last month, Reuters reports.