BANGKOK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the anti-government protests in Bangkok Wednesday evening issued 24-hour ultimatum to the Prime Minister and three Privy Council members to resign unconditionally as the scheduled three-day mass rally continues, Thai News Agency reported Thursday.

    The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) issued the statement in the evening as the red-shirted demonstrators assembled in front of Privy Council President Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda's residence.

Policemen stand guard outside the home of Prem Tinsulanonda, chief advisor to King Bhumibol Adulyadej as supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra rally, in Bangkok April 8, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    According to the news agency, Core UDD leader Jatuporn Promphan said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda and other two council members have 24 hours to make response, and if they do not step down, "severe pressure will be imposed."

    The UDD, however, will not seize Government House or Bangkok's airports like what their rival, People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) or the 'Yellow Shirts', did last year, said Jatuporn.

    Abhisit has dismissed the challenge, saying the ultimatum by UDD's self-styled democracy-advocates was quite impractical.

    Wednesday's mass rally has been scheduled by UDD as a final "showdown" to the government, and since around nine clock in the morning, red-clad people have begun to assemble and march toward main demonstration locations.

    Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Lt Gen Jakthip Chaijinda confirmed the number of protesters has surpassed 100,000 by 6 p.m. Wednesday.

    Ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra over the past week addressed through video-link the red shirts, accusing the mentioned Privy Council member for masterminding the 2006 coup that toppled his government, calling on his supporters to join this mass rally.

    The latest round of protests in Bangkok has entered the 14th day, and since March 27 all of the entrances of the Government House have been blocked by the anti-government protesters, preventing Abhisit and his cabinet ministers from entering to work.

A supporter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves a Thai flag during rally to the home of Prem Tinsulanonda, chief adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which is near Government House in Bangkok April 8, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Thai protesters warn of enclosing Gov't House

    BANGKOK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A pro-Thaksin movement warned on Thursday that it will lay siege the Government House after 04:00 p.m. Thursday if their ultimatum for the prime minister and privy councilors to step down are not responded, according to local media.

    Officials working at Government House were pressured to return home, Bangkok Post newspaper website reported. Full story

Thai protesters' leader warns of rallying at Pattaya

    BANGKOK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A pro-Thaksin movement leader said Thursday that anti-government rally site may move from Bangkok to Pattaya, venue of the upcoming Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and dialogue partners summits, if their demand for the prime minister and privy councillors to step down is not met.

    The political struggle has moved into a final showdown in which there must be a winner and a loser, The Nation news website quoted Jatuporn Phrompan, co-organizer of the mass anti-government rally and core leader of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) as saying. Full story

Anti-gov't protesters in Bangkok confirmed over 100,000 

    BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The number of protesters has risen to over 100,000 at about 06:00 p.m. Wednesday as the anti-government mass rally continues in Bangkok, Thai media reported.

    Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Lt Gen Jakthip Chaijinda confirmed the figure estimated by the rally leader days before, the website of The Nation said. Full story

Thai PM confident of security for ASEAN summits despite mass anti-gov't rally

    BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Wednesday that his government will make assurance of security for ASEAN leaders and dialogue partners during the upcoming summit despite mass rally held in Bangkok, The Nation news website reported.

    The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and their counterparts from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand will meet in Pattaya for the three-day meeting, starting on April 10. Full story

Thai PM rejects demand for his resignation amid mass protest
 
    BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejected calls on Wednesday for his resignation amid a mass rally in Bangkok. The rally followed a two-week sit-in by protestors outside his office.

    Abhisit said he would not yield to the pressure of the anti-government protesters to dissolve the government, and he planned to carry on as usual. Full story

Thai PM insists no gov't dissolution

    BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted on Wednesday he would not yield to the pressure of the anti-government protesters to dissolve the government, Thai media reported.

    There were about 80,000 red-shirted protesters attending the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) 's mass rally on Wednesday, close to the number Metropolitan Police had estimated, said Abihist as quoted by the Bangkok Post website. Full story

Thaksin's family leaves Thailand 

    BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Three children of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have left Thailand, TV network reported Wednesday.

    Panthongthae Shinawatra, son of Thaksin left Thailand on Tuesday night and Pintongta Shinawatra, eldest daughter left on Tuesday morning while Paethongtan, the yonger daughter left the country on Monday, without elaborating their destinations, Channel3 reported.Full story

Thai PM: Drastic action to be taken if protest turns riot

    BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Tuesday afternoon drastic actions might be taken against Wednesday's mass rally in Bangkok if the planned protest becomes a riot, Thai News Agency reported.

    Speaking at Parliament, Abhisit said his government is trying to avoid confrontation with the red-shirted protesters of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), who have been demonstrating at the gates of his offices, blocking entrances for 13 days since March 26. Full story

Ousted Thai PM Thaksin not in Cambodia: Official 

    PHNOM PENH, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A government spokesman here on Tuesday dismissed the rumor that ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra once stayed in Cambodia to carry out his political agenda.

    "The Thai side heard some wrong information about Thaksin. They got the rumor about the presence of Thaksin in Cambodia. Thaksin actually didn't have any presence in our country," said Phay Siphan, secretary of state and spokesman of the Council of Ministers. Full story

Thai deputy PM orders to arrest protesters for attacking PM's vehicle

    BANGKOK, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban Tuesday instructed police to arrest all protesters who attacked the vehicle of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier the day, Thai News Agency reported.

    Suthep said the provincial police bureau in charge of Pattaya, where the Abhisit's vehicle had been trapped and attacked, must make sure all the protesters involved be arrested. Full story

Thai PM's vehicle attacked by protesters in Pattaya

     BANGKOK, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Traffic snarl caused Thai Prime Minister's vehicle being trapped by angry protesters on Tuesday afternoon in Pattaya before he finally escaped the besiege with a hole at the back window of the car, Thai media reported.

     According to the Nation's website, the attack happened at 1:15 p.m. when Ahbisit Vejjajiva's official car and a Toyota Prado of the security officials were stopped by a traffic jam at an intersection in Pattaya, where they had just escaped the surrounding of anti-government protesters at the Pattayal Cliff Beach Hotel, a temporary venue for cabinet meeting.  Full story

Thai Security authorities prepare for Wednesday's mass rally
 
    BANGKOK, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called a special meeting on Monday with selected ministers and security authorities, including military officials, to prepare for the planned massive anti-government protest on Wednesday, Thai News Agency reported.

    According to the agency's website, Metropolitan Police spokesman Suporn Pansuea said the meeting discussed security measures to handle the mass rally, which is led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and seen as a final "showdown" of the anti-government group. Full story