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Thai protesters return to streets Thaksin demands fresh resistance
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of protesters have gathered in Thailand's capital Bangkok to call on the government to resign, in the biggest rally since riots in April. Thailand's ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra has addressed a huge crowd of supporters in Bangkok by telephone, urging them to continue protesting.
About 4,000 security officers are policing the red-shirted demonstrators, who are loyal to ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The crowd cheered as Mr Thaksin, who lives in exile in Dubai, criticised the government and said he would restore "true democracy" if he could return.
The rally organisers say Mr Thaksin will address the crowd by telephone from Dubai, where he lives in exile. About 4,000 security officers were policing the red-shirted demonstrators.
Protests in April led to the worst street violence in 15 years. Police estimated the crowd at more than 25,000 - the biggest rally since April when protests led to deadly violence.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called a state of emergency as the rallies by red-shirted protesters threatened to destabilise his government. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called a state of emergency in April as the rallies by red-shirted protesters threatened to destabilise his government.
The protest leaders eventually called off their action after days of rioting and clashes with security forces left at least two people dead and more than 100 injured.The protest leaders eventually called off their action after days of rioting and clashes with security forces left at least two people dead and more than 100 injured.
Yellow vs red 'Dying in the desert'
One of the organisers of the current protest, Nutthawut Saikua, told the Associated Press the aims of the demonstrators had not changed since the April clashes. Mr Thaksin told his supporters they had gathered because they wanted to see "true democracy".
Royalists saw Mr Thaksin's popularity as a threat to the monarchyRoyalists saw Mr Thaksin's popularity as a threat to the monarchy
"We rally today because we want to get rid of the government, the aristocracy and bring back true democracy to the people," he said. "We loathe injustice. We loathe double standards. We're here to say if you want us to stop, then return justice and true democracy," he said.
"We demand that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resign and dissolves the [parliament] because the government is not democratic." To roars of approval, he said the current government was good for three things: "Borrowing, hiking taxes and hounding Thaksin."
He also entertained the crowd with songs, and begged them to find a way for him to return to Thailand.
"Why do you have to leave me dying in the desert when I can work for our country?" he said.
Mr Thaksin has spent much of his time abroad since he was deposed in a military coup in 2006.
He was convicted of corruption in 2008 - a prosecution he says was politically motivated - and faces jail if he returns to Thailand.
Yellow vs red
Mr Abhisit came to power last December after previous Thaksin-supporting governments were brought down by a concerted street protest by yellow-shirted demonstrators.Mr Abhisit came to power last December after previous Thaksin-supporting governments were brought down by a concerted street protest by yellow-shirted demonstrators.
He was eventually chosen as leader after several MPs who had previously backed Thaksin were persuaded to change sides. He was eventually chosen as leader after several MPs who had previously backed Mr Thaksin were persuaded to change sides.
Analysts say the rift in Thai society - symbolised by the red and yellow shirts - remains strong.Analysts say the rift in Thai society - symbolised by the red and yellow shirts - remains strong.
Many Thais in rural areas support Mr Thaksin and ally themselves with the red-shirt cause.Many Thais in rural areas support Mr Thaksin and ally themselves with the red-shirt cause.
The "yellow shirts" draw their support from Bangkok's urban elite, the middle classes and the conservative royalists.The "yellow shirts" draw their support from Bangkok's urban elite, the middle classes and the conservative royalists.