BANGKOK, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Tens of thousands of protestors aiming at ousting Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra continued their march from Sanam Luang to Government House Tuesday morning as the beleaguered premier was up in the Northeast on an election campaigning.

    The protestors have staged an all-night rally at Sanam Luang and began to prepare for the march an hour before dawn. They hoped to elicit maximum support for their demand to ask Thaksin step down since the cabinet is scheduled to hold the weekly meeting Tuesday.

    Waving posters depicting Thaksin as Hitler and a criminal, the protestors shouted "Thaksin Get Out," "Thaksin Get Out." They also burned effigy of the Prime Minister to vent anger and resentment.

    Police estimated that 40,000 people stayed the night at Sanam Luang. Protest leaders have called for a strike by office workers Tuesday, and hoped to get at least 100,000 people for their march.

    At least 20,000 police officers, along with fire trucks and emergency services, were deployed in the center of the city. Outside the gates of the Cabinet compound, more than 1,000 policemen stood guard to prevent the protesters from breaking through.

    Barricades have been set up around the rally sites amid fears the march could erupt into violence outside Government House.

    Protest leader Chamlong Srimuang, who led the 1992 uprising, threatened to stay outside the Government House forever if Thaksin does not resign. In an address at Sanam Luang Monday night, Chamlong promised they won't play along with any provocation and will remain peaceful.

    The tension further strained after the TV Pool on Sunday night which repeatedly broadcast footage of the 15-minute audience on May 20, 1992, in which the King acting as mediator between former Palang Dharma party leader Chamlong Srimuang and former prime minister Suchinda Kraprayoon in the aftermath of Black May 1992, sending mixed messages.

    However, the authorities have tried to play down such concerns.Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said Thaksin had instructed key Thai Rak Thai party members and officials concernedto guarantee safety for protestors as he still believed they would remained peaceful in the protests.

    He also dismissed speculations that the government would declare a state of emergency under the current turmoil.

    Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Wannasathit, responsible for security, said the pro-Thaksin groups from the provinces have been asked to remain at Chatuchak public park or Mor Chit bus terminal to avoid confrontation with the anti-Thaksin movement. He vowed to accept responsibility for any violence breaking out.

    The anti-Thaksin demonstration gained momentum following Thaksin's family sold their 50-percent stake in Shin Corp, the telecoms giant he founded before entering politics, to a Singapore investment company in January.

    The 1.9 billion dollars tax-free deal sparks allegations of wrongdoing and abuse of power by the critics and became the focal point for an escalating political confrontation which have been brewing among portions of the middle class people in Bangkok.

    On Monday, respected social thinker Dr. Prawase Wasi pleaded Privy Council chairman Gen Prem Tinsulanonda to act as a mediator in talks between feuding sides in order to end the political impasse.

    Mahidol University President Emeritus Prof. Pornchai Matangkasombat meanwhile said he would continue the efforts to invite all feuding sides for a tripartite negotiation to end the current political tension, including the premier, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and three oppositional parties.

    The Thai election watchdog, People's Network for Elections (P-Net) and the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT), by far have taken the initiative to broker the talks.

    Last Saturday, Dr. Premsak Piayura, the 93rd party-list candidate in the April 2 snap election, has entered the monkhood after submitted his resignation. The move has left Thai Rak Thai'sparty-list one short and dealt a blow to the caretaker prime minister in the upcoming election.

    The resignation means that Thai Rak Thai would not be able to convene the House and nominate the prime minister.

    Three major opposition parties, the Democrat, the Chart Thai and the Mahachon Parties, have declared to boycott the snap election late last month, leaving Thai Rak Thai and a dozen small parties compete at the forefront.

    Thaksin, who at the moment was still electioneering in the northeast Ubon Ratchathani province, will not return to preside over Tuesday's cabinet meeting. Instead he is expected to join the meeting via teleconferencing.

    Buoyed by the presence of about 50,000 supporters in the province, Thaksin said he wanted to stay in power for three more years to help people get out of poverty. He vowed to take the opportunity to amend the laws deemed to be unfair to poor people as well as setting up a panel to perform political reform.

    "If Thaksin loses, the people will also lose. In the next three years, I would like to conclude my job", he told the crowd. Enditem