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Tight security for Thai protest Protesters march in Thai capital
(about 1 hour later)
Security is tight in parts of the Thai capital, Bangkok, for a rally by a protest group which is demanding the government step down. Several thousand protesters have converged on government offices in the Thai capital Bangkok to demand that the government step down.
Thousands of police were deployed as the People's Alliance for Democracy began a march on Government House. Police lined the streets as crowds led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) marched in Bangkok.
The PAD, mostly made up of middle-class Bangkok residents, say the government is a proxy for Thaksin Shinawatra, who the military ousted in a 2006 coup.The PAD, mostly made up of middle-class Bangkok residents, say the government is a proxy for Thaksin Shinawatra, who the military ousted in a 2006 coup.
They have been protesting in Bangkok since late May. The group has been protesting in Bangkok since late May.
The group led the massive anti-Thaksin street protests that preceded the 2006 coup, but the demonstrations this time have so far remained small. It led the massive anti-Thaksin street protests that preceded the 2006 coup, but the demonstrations this time have so far remained small.
Nonetheless the PAD say they will continue to demonstrate until the government steps down. Earlier this week, key unions added their backing.
Deep divisionsDeep divisions
Ahead of the protest, police closed down the area around Government House. Ahead of the protests, police closed down the area around Government House.
Schools and offices nearby had been ordered to shut, a government spokesman said. Schools and offices nearby were ordered to shut. Thousands of police were deployed and barriers set up. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7427309.stm">Why is Thailand in turmoil?
Metropolitan Police chief Lt-Gen Aswin Kwanmuang called for calm. The protest leaders had promised 100,000 people would join their movement to oust the government.
"We urge the PAD not to damage the country further. Political problems should be solved in parliament, not on the street," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. In the end, only a fraction of that number showed up, according to the BBC's correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head.
The protests have put Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej under increasing pressure. But their lack of mass support belies the serious threat they still pose to the four-month-old government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, our correspondent adds.
His People Power Party - made up of Mr Thaksin's allies - won the elections in December 2007 that returned Thailand to democracy.His People Power Party - made up of Mr Thaksin's allies - won the elections in December 2007 that returned Thailand to democracy.
But the deep divisions that contributed to the military coup remain.But the deep divisions that contributed to the military coup remain.
Mr Samak and Mr Thaksin enjoy strong support in rural areas, but are deeply disliked by Bangkok's traditional elite. Mr Thaksin, a telecommunications billionaire, is banned from politics, but he still enjoys strong support in rural areas.
And the new government's recent moves to amend a military-backed constitution approved before last year's elections have angered opponents. He is, however, deeply disliked by Bangkok's traditional elite, who do not want him to make a political comeback.

His opponents are also angry at the new government's recent move to amend the military-backed constitution - a move they say will give obvious benefits to the People Power Party and give Mr Thaksin added protection.
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