Thai protesters flood Bangkok streets for PM's resignation

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BANGKOK, Mar 20 (Bloomberg): About 20,000 Thai protesters flooded Bangkok's streets in pick-up trucks and cars, extending into a second week their pressure on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign.
"The situation is peaceful and under control," police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said by phone from Bangkok today.
Protest leaders have seen crowds dwindle to a few thousand during the day after attracting more than 100,000 supporters last weekend. The mostly rural group, which backs ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, threw their own blood on Abhisit's office and house earlier this week in a gesture of defiance.
Abhisit has rejected the group's demands for an early election, asserting his right to finish the 20 months of his term. He took power in a December 2008 parliamentary vote after a court dissolved the pro-Thaksin ruling party for vote buying.
Thousands of protesters riding motorbikes, cars and trucks plan to drive through Bangkok's central business district, Chinatown and some residential areas.
Meanwhile, AFP adds: A Thai government minister is to meet a representative of the 'Red Shirt' protesters holding mass anti-government rallies in Bangkok, a senator said Saturday.