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Thai crowds gather for exiled PM Thaksin demands end to 'meddling'
(about 1 hour later)
Thailand's ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is to address thousands of supporters, from exile, at a rally in a sports stadium in Bangkok. Thailand's ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has called for an end to "interference" in Thai politics.
The crowd will see a recorded film, but a live phone address may be cancelled. His demand - apparently a reference to senior military and royalist figures - was made in a video message to a party rally at a Bangkok sports stadium.
Mr Thaksin, whose whereabouts are unclear, has been in self-imposed exile since August after being convicted of breaking conflict of interest rules. Mr Thaksin is in self-imposed exile after being convicted of breaking conflict of interest rules.
It comes two days before parliament is to vote for a new PM to succeed his brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat. Parliament is voting on Monday for a new PM to succeed his brother-in-law.
Mr Somchai was forced to resign by a court ruling earlier this month. Mr Somchai Wongsawat was forced to resign by a court ruling earlier this month.
The court found his party, the People Power Party (PPP), guilty of fraud during the last election a year ago, and banned it and two other parties in the governing coalition.The court found his party, the People Power Party (PPP), guilty of fraud during the last election a year ago, and banned it and two other parties in the governing coalition.
They have now regrouped under new names, but the opposition Democrat Party says it has won over enough defectors and unaligned MPs to lead the new government.They have now regrouped under new names, but the opposition Democrat Party says it has won over enough defectors and unaligned MPs to lead the new government.
Opposition protestsOpposition protests
An estimated 40,000 people filled the stadium on Saturday afternoon, police said, ahead of Mr Thaksin's planned address. An estimated 40,000 people filled the stadium on Saturday afternoon, police said, ahead of Mr Thaksin's address.
Mr Thaksin remains strongly supported in Thailand, where his party - or parties affiliated with his political organisation - continue to perform well in elections, especially in rural areas.The opposition's choice for PM says he is confident of forming a government Those people who interfere in forming the government must stop and withdraw Thaksin Shinawatra, ex-prime minister Speakers poured scorn on the defectors who have given the opposition Democrat Party its first shot at forming a government in eight years.
He was expected to address the crowd live by telephone sometime after 2000 local time (1300 GMT), after a pre-recorded video was shown. In a pre-recorded video address, Mr Thaksin demanded that those forces which he said had been meddling to undermine the government led by his allies should stop.
But one organiser told the Associated Press news agency the live phone conversation would not now go ahead. The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says this was a thinly veiled reference to senior military and royalist figures who have been backing Mr Thaksin's opponents.
Mr Thaksin was expected to use his address to criticise the Democrats, who one rally organiser said had used the army to win over support for their choice of prime minister. The opposition's choice for PM says he is confident of forming a government
Plans for a live telephone link to the rally were abandoned at the last minute, organisers said.
The Democrats, who were defeated in the last general elections in December, will propose to parliament that Abhisit Vejjajiva becomes the next prime minister.The Democrats, who were defeated in the last general elections in December, will propose to parliament that Abhisit Vejjajiva becomes the next prime minister.
"What the military leaders have done contradicts the will of the Thai people in backing Abhisit to be prime minister," Jatuporn Prompan told the AFP news agency."What the military leaders have done contradicts the will of the Thai people in backing Abhisit to be prime minister," Jatuporn Prompan told the AFP news agency.
The new prime minister will be the country's fifth leader in a little over two years. The new prime minister would be the country's fifth leader in a little over two years.
Thailand has been in political deadlock for months as anti-government protesters have mounted a campaign to remove the governing party.Thailand has been in political deadlock for months as anti-government protesters have mounted a campaign to remove the governing party.
They accused the PPP of being a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.They accused the PPP of being a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
The protest culminated in a week-long occupation of Bangkok's main international airport that left 300,000 foreign tourists stranded.The protest culminated in a week-long occupation of Bangkok's main international airport that left 300,000 foreign tourists stranded.
The opposition called off its action after the recent decision by the constitutional court to disband the PPP.The opposition called off its action after the recent decision by the constitutional court to disband the PPP.
Our correspondent says that after months of turmoil, Thailand is now just days away from a new government that just might be able to cool the political atmosphere.