Protests against Thai PM to resume for second day

THAILAND: Protests against embattled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will continue for a second day, organisers said Monday, a day after 50,000 rallied to demand the premier step down.

"Our Monday protest will have more people joining from the provinces," said Sondhi Limthongkul, the premier's fiercest public critic and a key figure in the anti-Thaksin movement that has gripped the capital Bangkok.

Several thousands demonstrators camped out overnight in Sanam Luang field, where Sunday's rally drew tens of thousands for the third anti-Thaksin rally in less than a month. Meanwhile, at least 2,000 poor farmer gathered at Government House for a pre-dawn rally that sent hundreds of police scrambling to seal the gates of Thaksin's administrative headquarters, witnesses said.

A short time later the farmers marched on the state-run Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. Bank staff told AFP they had closed the bank as the farmers gathered peacefully outside.

The farmers have made clear that they are not protesting Thaksin but have not announced any demands, according to witnesses. Bangkok, Monday AFP