BANGKOK, March 20 (AFP) - Thousands of red-clad Thai protesters began to snake across Bangkok today in a festive travelling rally aimed at winning over the city's residents to their flagging anti-government campaign.
Police said around 20,000 “Red Shirts” joined the convoy across the capital in pick-up trucks, buses, cars and on motorcycles after they rejected a conditional offer of talks by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva a day earlier.
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| Red-shirted supporters of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra wave flags as they parade in the streets of Bangkok yesterday. AFP |
The group planned to zig-zag along 45 kilometres (28 miles) of Bangkok's main roads bearing flags, smiles and music, in an attempt to recruit residents to their waning rally calling for elections, now into its seventh day.
Backers of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the Reds -- mainly from poor rural areas -- say they are fighting Thailand's elites in bureaucratic, military and palace circles, whom they accuse of ousting elected governments.
The protesters say Abhisit's government is illegitimate because it came to power with army backing via a December 2008 parliamentary vote, after a controversial court ruling removed Thaksin's allies.
“We will travel to find love from the people of Bangkok and to unite them with us, the poor peasants, to overthrow the elite-backed government,” protest leader Veera Musikapong told the crowds before their convoy set off.
Protest numbers peaked at more than 100,000 last Sunday and have so far been peaceful, but army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said he worried “there could be some clashes” Saturday.
Speaking by videolink to the crowds Friday night, Thaksin, who was deposed in a 2006 coup and lives in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption, apologised to the city's residents in advance for the heavy traffic.
“It will continue until we win and regain our justice, but I will repay you when I return,” he said.
Deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban has said the convoy could go ahead but warned demonstrators not to block traffic, “or the government will not consider it a peaceful protest”, he said.
He said the convoy would be banned from entering a two-kilometre radius around the Bangkok hospital where the country's revered king has been staying since September.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he had not been able to return home since the rally began, as he and other members of his army-backed government have been holed up at a barracks due to security fears.
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