BANGKOK - THOUSANDS of supporters of ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded the seat of government on Tuesday, reigniting the kingdom's political turmoil just days ahead of a key regional summit.The red-shirted protesters called on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve his two-month-old government and hold snap elections, saying they would stage a three-day sit-in to press their demands.
Demonstrators shouting 'We don't want this government' broke through barbed wire barricades manned by hundreds of police and soldiers and took control of the roads around Government House, an AFP correspondent said.
The so-called 'Red Shirts' have campaigned against the government since a court dissolved the pro-Thaksin former ruling party ruling in December, paving the way for British-born Abhisit to take power.
One of the protest leaders, Shinawat Haboonpad, said they would stay at Government House 'at least until Thursday.'
The rally has already forced Mr Abhisit to move his weekly cabinet meeting due later Tuesday to the beach resort of Hua Hin, where he will host a summit of Asean leaders from Friday.
Mr Abhisit said he was confident security forces would handle the rally peacefully and insisted that he would go to work at Government House on Wednesday as usual.
Police said around 10,000 flag-waving protesters dressed in signature crimson T-shirts had massed outside Government House after travelling on motorbikes, trucks and on foot from a downtown Bangkok parade ground.
In addition to calling for elections, the red-shirts have also demanded the sacking of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya because of his links to the anti-Thaksin People?s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) movement.
The yellow-clad PAD occupied Government House for around three months last year - during which violent protests left two people dead - and seized control of Bangkok's two airports for a week in November-December. They ended the sieges in December when the court dissolved the Thaksin-linked ruling party, paving the way for Democrat Party leader Abhisit to take power in a parliamentary vote. -- AFP
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