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| Thailand braces for mass protests | Thailand braces for mass protests |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Thailand has mobilised about 40,000 security personnel ahead of mass rallies by "red shirt" opposition protesters over the coming days. | Thailand has mobilised about 40,000 security personnel ahead of mass rallies by "red shirt" opposition protesters over the coming days. |
| The demonstrators plan to meet around the country before converging on the capital, Bangkok, on Sunday. | The demonstrators plan to meet around the country before converging on the capital, Bangkok, on Sunday. |
| They are mainly supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006. | They are mainly supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006. |
| They say they plan to rally until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva calls new elections. | They say they plan to rally until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva calls new elections. |
| The government has promised a tough reaction if the protests set to begin on Friday turn violent. | The government has promised a tough reaction if the protests set to begin on Friday turn violent. |
| If there is a siege, we would immediately take steps to disperse the crowds Suthep ThaugsubanDeputy Prime Minister Profile: Thailand's reds and yellows Q&A: Thailand protests | If there is a siege, we would immediately take steps to disperse the crowds Suthep ThaugsubanDeputy Prime Minister Profile: Thailand's reds and yellows Q&A: Thailand protests |
| The Internal Security Act has been invoked, giving the military the power to impose curfews and restrict numbers at gatherings. | The Internal Security Act has been invoked, giving the military the power to impose curfews and restrict numbers at gatherings. |
| Checkpoints have been set up on the roads into Bangkok. | Checkpoints have been set up on the roads into Bangkok. |
| The red shirt movement, led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), has promised a huge but peaceful demonstration. | The red shirt movement, led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), has promised a huge but peaceful demonstration. |
| Smaller rallies, meetings and "political schools" have been planned for various provinces before convoys of vehicles carry protesters to the capital. | Smaller rallies, meetings and "political schools" have been planned for various provinces before convoys of vehicles carry protesters to the capital. |
| The red shirts' last major protests, in April last year, turned violent, with two deaths and dozens of people injured. | The red shirts' last major protests, in April last year, turned violent, with two deaths and dozens of people injured. |
| "If there is a siege, we would no longer consider it a peaceful protest and immediately take steps to disperse the crowds," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said. | "If there is a siege, we would no longer consider it a peaceful protest and immediately take steps to disperse the crowds," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said. |
| The protest leaders say the government is playing up the threat of violence to justify a possible crackdown. | The protest leaders say the government is playing up the threat of violence to justify a possible crackdown. |
| The red shirts oppose the 2006 military coup that toppled Thaksin Shinawatra. | The red shirts oppose the 2006 military coup that toppled Thaksin Shinawatra. |
| They say Prime Minister Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the backing of the military and the Bangkok-based elites. | They say Prime Minister Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the backing of the military and the Bangkok-based elites. |
| Mr Thaksin's main power base was in the rural north. He is now living in self-imposed exile in Dubai, after he was ousted amid allegations of corruption and abuse of power. | |
| Last month the Supreme Court ruled that just over half of the assets ($1.4bn; £910m) belonging to Mr Thaksin or his family which were frozen since the coup, should be seized. | Last month the Supreme Court ruled that just over half of the assets ($1.4bn; £910m) belonging to Mr Thaksin or his family which were frozen since the coup, should be seized. |