Thursday, April 9, 2009

Tens of thousands of supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra staged a second day of rallies to push for Mr Abhisit's resignation, fanning out through the capital to several new sites.

Tensions rose when around 100 taxi drivers blocked a major Bangkok intersection in a display of loyalty to Thaksin, while protest leaders said they would next target a weekend meeting of Asian leaders in Pattaya.

'We have run out of peaceful measures,' said Jatuporn Prompan, the main leader of Thaksin's so-called 'Red Shirts'.

'Our people will leave for Pattaya tonight, gather protesters and lead them to block the road to the hotel where the meeting is organised. We will not allow this meeting to take place,' he told supporters.

Mr Jatuporn ordered protesters who had earlier moved to the headquarters of Mr Abhisit's Democrat Party, the foreign ministry and the constitutional court to 'please go to reinforce our taxi drivers at Victory Monument'.

Traffic jams stretched back for several kilometres after taxi drivers double-parked at the Bangkok landmark. About 6,000 protesters then arrived to support the drivers, who have traditionally backed Thaksin.

Earlier, a woman appeared to drive her car at demonstrators in Bangkok before escaping, causing one minor injury.

The 'Red Shirts' announced their latest move after the expiry of a 24-hour deadline for the resignation of Mr Abhisit and a top royal advisor whom they accuse of masterminding the 2006 coup that toppled Thaksin.

Their numbers had dwindled to less than 25,000 on Thursday from a peak of 100,000 the previous night, police said. -- AFP

Source: Straits Times