WORLD BRIEFING / THAILAND
Thousands of “red shirt” supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra rallied in Bangkok in their biggest protest since violent clashes two months ago.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship gathered in the capital to demand that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve parliament and call elections. Six hundred police were on duty and more on standby.
The exiled Thaksin, who was blamed for instigating riots by supporters in April, addressed the crowd by telephone and accused the government of mismanaging the economy, raising taxes and plunging the poor into debt.
About 20,000 protesters listened in pouring rain.
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