Thai protesters ready for fresh mass rally
Thursday, 1 April 2010
BANGKOK, Mar 31 (AFP): Thai Red Shirt protesters geared up Wednesday for another weekend of mass rallies, ignoring Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's offer of a third round of talks to negotiate early elections.
The red-clad champions of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra have refused the prime minister's compromise to hold a vote in nine months, insisting that Abhisit dissolve the lower house within 15 days.
Red Shirt leaders said that Saturday's gathering would be their biggest since their rally began with more than 100,000 protesters on March 14, after the country's top court seized most of Thaksin's fortune.
Thaksin lives abroad, mostly in Dubai, to avoid a jail term for graft.
The red-clad champions of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra have refused the prime minister's compromise to hold a vote in nine months, insisting that Abhisit dissolve the lower house within 15 days.
Red Shirt leaders said that Saturday's gathering would be their biggest since their rally began with more than 100,000 protesters on March 14, after the country's top court seized most of Thaksin's fortune.
Thaksin lives abroad, mostly in Dubai, to avoid a jail term for graft.