By: BangkokPost.com, AFP
Published: 26/03/2009 at 12:22 PM
Red-shirt protesters surrounded Government House on Thursday afternoon, demanding the three-month-old government's resignation.
Police put the number of demonstrators at around 30,000.
"Get out! Get out!," sign-waving protesters shouted, while using cranes to remove large containers police had used to block roads leading to Government House frolm Sanam Luang.
"Today we have only one aim: to oust this government," red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Prompan declared from a truck armed with huge amplifiers.
Protest leaders earlier delayed the start, explaining they needed to wait for supporters who went to collect their 2,000-baht gift cheques from the government in the morning.
He insisted the group would continue protesting until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resigns, but affirmed that the protesters would not attempt to break into state offices or seize them.
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was scheuled to make a video-link phone-in from overseas to the rally at Government House about 7pm Thursday, Mr Veera said.
"I am confident that the government will not have to declare a state of emergency, but whatever happens we are ready to cope," he said.
Security around the Government House is tight with about 10,000 police, soldiers and defence volunteers guarding the area.
The demands of the protesters include the removal of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, the dissolution of the House and the prosecution of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) core members who seized Bangkok's airports last year.
Notice the sign that sayd Pattaya :o
