| 08 April 2009 |
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is rejecting calls for his resignation as a massive anti-government protest gets underway in Bangkok.
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| Anti-government protesters take up the street near the home of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's top adviser, Prem Tinsulanonda, during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, 08 Apr 2009 |
The march is the biggest challenge so far to Mr. Abhisit's four-month-old government.
Supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra plan to march from Government House to the home of a top adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
They accuse the adviser of masterminding the 2006 coup that ousted Mr. Thaksin from office.
Mr. Abhisit says Thai authorities will avoid sparking clashes with anti-government protesters, but there are concerns that the situation could turn violent.
On Tuesday, an anti-government protest in the coastal resort of Pattaya turned violent when demonstrators attacked a car carrying the prime minister. Mr. Abhisit was not harmed.
The clash was the most serious since supporters of Mr. Thaksin began surrounding Mr. Abhisit's offices late last month.
Mr. Abhisit says he must stay in office. He has vowed to prevent opposition protests Wednesday from escalating into what he called "civil war."
Mr. Thaksin has been delivering almost daily speeches to supporters in Bangkok through a video link from an undisclosed location abroad. He fled the country last year before a Thai court sentenced him to two years in prison for corruption. He denies any wrongdoing and is believed to be living mainly in the Middle Eastern emirate of Dubai.
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