Some 5,000 protesters on Sunday afternoon arrived for a mass rally at Sanam Luang, the Royal Fieldin Bangkok, to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Many protesters hanged anti-Thaksin banners on the stage, and members of Dharma Army led by Maj. Gen. Chamlong Srimuang, who helped oust a military-backed government in 1992, intended to stay put in the rally site as they carried big luggages.

    Most of demonstrators tied yellow bands around their heads as asymbol to fight against the caretaker prime minister. It was reported that people from several provinces were blocked at road checkpoints from traveling to Bangkok to join the rally.

Some 20,000 policemen have been deployed at the protest scene and other key points in the city. Pol Col Pinij Maneerat, spokesman of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said more police would be dispatched to keep law and order. They would not be armed and were asked to exercise extreme tolerance, he said.

Thaksin, a self-made telecom tycoon, has been accused of widespread corruption and abuse of power. The anti-Thaksin campaign gained momentum last month after the prime minister's family sold its controlling stake in telecom giant Shin Corp. to a Singapore state-owned investment company for 1.9 billion U.S. dollars.

Opposition triggered by Sondhi Limthongkul, a local media mogul,and later joined by Chamlong and other parties and civil groups launched two large-sale rallies earlier this month to demand Thaksin's step-down.

Thaksin's decision on Friday to dissolve parliament and hold a snap election in April failed to appease the protest organizers, who have vowed to boycott the upcoming election and continue pushing the premier to resign.

On Saturday, opposition Democrat and Mahachon parties decided to boycott the election as they believed that the House dissolution called by Thaksin was not legitimate. Chat Thai party, which had earlier declared to contest in the polls, is expected to announce its final decision later Sunday.

Thaksin shrugged off threats by three opposition parties Sunday, saying each party has the right to decide on whether to boycott the election or not, but Thai Rak Thai will go ahead to prepare for the 500-seat House of Representatives poll.

During his weekly radio address Saturday, the premier already began campaigning by pledging more populist policies for electorate such as wage hikes for civil servants and jobs for students.

Analysts see Thaksin's calling of an early election as a shrewd political maneuver to return his power with a fresh mandate. It is forecasted that with strong backing from mass rural voters, Thai Rak Thai party is likely to win the snap election although with a reduced majority.

Editor: Yan