In Thailand, the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has given the government 24 hours to dissolve parliament and call new elections or face crippling protests across the capital Bangkok.

Tens of thousands of red-shirted supporters of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the UDD opposition movement have gathered in Bangkok to lend weight to the ultimatum. The UDD has accused the government of being undemocratic, and is demanding that power be returned to the people. With the UDD expecting hundreds of thousands of people to join its protest, the authorities have deployed 50,000 soldiers and police officers throughout the city. No incidents have been reported so far.

Popular former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra fled the country after a military coup in 2006 and currently lives in exile in Dubai. He has been sentenced in absentia to two years in jail on corruption charges.