Thai \\\'Red Shirts\\\' rally to defend wounded govt

Thailand's pro-government "Red Shirts" began massing in Bangkok Saturday to challenge a bid by opposition protesters to install an unelected regime in power after the removal of the prime minister. The dismissal of premier Yingluck Shinawatra and nine ministers by the Constitutional Court this week for the improper transfer of a top security official has plunged the restive kingdom deeper into crisis. Officials said about 3,000 police officers were on stand-by for the pro-government rally on the western outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday, with turnout expected to peak in the evening, according to AFP.