Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) -- The deadly standoff between the Thai government and protesters reached a boiling point Wednesday as security forces surged into Lumpini Park, with at least five people dead in the largest offensive on protesters since demonstrations began.
Bangkok looked and sounded like a war zone as protesters disbursed and smaller riots erupted throughout the Thai capital. Witnesses reported a dozen buildings -- including a bank, a police station, a shopping mall and a local television station -- had been set ablaze.
Hours after the large military operation got underway, a government spokesman said soldiers had retaken control of the park area -- and several Red Shirt leaders called off their protests.
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"I would like to give moral support to officers who are doing their duties now, and would like to reassure you [the Thai public]," said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in his first televised address following the operation.
The leaders could be seen on television telling a crowd at the park that they wanted to avoid further bloodshed and wanted to turn themselves in. But it seemed as though the large group of protesters were not heeding that call.
Sniper fire and explosions could still be heard in the area, George McCleod, a witness and freelance journalist, told CNN.
"It is a live ammunition situation and I expect a heavy death toll by the end of the day," McCleod said.
The government instituted a curfew Wednesday, barring people from coming outside between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
At least five people, including an Italian journalist, were listed as killed by the Police Hospital in Bangkok. Another 64 -- two journalists among them -- were wounded.
Security forces would continue to surge into the park to root out the remaining protesters, a government spokesman said.
Seven anti-government protest leaders had been taken into custody while several others fled, authorities said. Officials asked protesters, residents and foreigners to head to a nearby stadium if they want to leave.
Still, about 1,000 protesters remained in the park.
"We Thai people never experienced this kind of situation before," said Sirinun Siripanich, the assistant secretary to the Bangkok governor. "This is like a mini-civil war."
The fear for some in the area was that there would soon be a violent showdown when security forces confronted the resolute protesters gathered there.
"I cannot see the operation coming to a successful end without further violence and without further losses," said Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Bangkok's governor. "I was hoping to have a more optimistic message but I cannot."
iReport: Video sparks discussion
Army Col. Sansern Kaewkumnerd confirmed to CNN that soldiers were given the all-clear to fire if they faced a clear threat.
Video footage submitted to CNN by iReporter Mikel Ravizza in Bangkok's Pratanum area appeared to show soldiers running after coming under fire themselves.
"They haven't taken over this side of the street yet... they're just sitting waiting. Every 15 minutes there's gun fire but right now it's quiet. I can see snipers in the building below me," said Ravizza, who said he could also see snipers positioned on rooftops. "I have a feeling that tonight they're going to move in. They tried to earlier and they ran away.
"I happen to be on the border and watching them fight. They certainly haven't taken part of the city yet -- the Red Shirts are definitely here... There's running and tire fires and shooting... they ran in and started moving around and they're hiding in buildings and there's been a bunch of fires around here all night."
iReport: Army running away
The military operation is the government's response to protests that have paralyzed parts of Bangkok for months, Thai officials said. At least 40 people have been killed since clashes intensified Thursday.
Timeline of Thailand's political crisis
On Wednesday, armored personnel carriers smashed into bamboo and tire barricades lining Lumpini Park. Soldiers shot sporadically as they entered the northwest edge of the park.
The prime minister's office issued a statement blaming the crackdown on failed talks between the two sides.
"Negotiations failed because core (opposition) leaders are not to be able to make decisions by themselves," the statement said, alluding to an outside force influencing the protesters. "(We) ask core leaders to stop the rally and surrender."
The Red Shirt opposition members support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 bloodless military coup. They have been protesting for weeks, demanding that current Prime Minister Abhisit dissolve parliament and call new elections.
What are the protests about?
"We Thai people never experienced this kind of situation before."
--Sirinun Siripanich, assistant secretary to Bangkok governor
--Sirinun Siripanich, assistant secretary to Bangkok governor
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"They did not demand anything for me or on my behalf. I am not UDD," he said.
Thaksin also accused the Thaigovernment of defaming him when it said he was the mastermind behind the violence in the country's ongoing political crisis.
"I never approve nor agree to any use of violence," he said. "I believe in peace. I love my country as much as any member of this government. I believe in peaceful and non-violent means to end conflict and reject any use of force.
"If there is any act of terrorism, it is the duty of this government to find the wrongdoer and prosecute them in the court of law."
The violence has prompted the United Nations' top human rights official to implore anti-government protesters and government officials to resume talks.
But on Wednesday in Bangkok, as bullets rang out, black plumes of smoke rose and soldiers crept forward toward a showdown, some expressed fears that authorities had lost control of the situation.
Bangkok residents: This is a mini-civil war'
"I don't want to see any injuries. I don't want to see anybody hurt," said Prajya Aura-ek, who runs a hotel in the area. "We have this nervousness on our minds. We wonder if we this is going to get completely out of control."
Other Thais trapped in their homes by the unrest expressed support for the security forces' efforts to end the protests.
Trapped in Bangkok's protest zone: Hunkering down
Somsong Chareonsuk, a 46-year-old housekeeper trapped in a home inside an area affected by the protests, said she was glad Thai soldiers had pushed the protesters further up the street.
"Even though things are calmer outside, I still can't leave -- the road is still blocked," she said.
iReporter Shaun Phan, a 25-year-old Vietnamese-American living in the Sukhumvit area of the city, said that even areas away from the main protests had been affected by violence. A local supermarket had been bombed and gunfire had been reported, he said.
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