Tens of thousands of supporters of Thailand's ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra demanded on Sunday that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve parliament and call fresh elections. The “Red Shirts”, as they are known, claim the current government is undemocratic. The prime minister has rejected the demands.
Thousands of protesters have also taken to the streets today. Some of them converged close to a military base where Prime Minister Abhisit has his temporary headquarters. The prime minister left the base by helicopter. The Thai army has sent reinforcements to the capital.
Mr Thaksin fled the country after he was toppled from power in a coup in 2006. He lives in exile in Dubai. He faces a two-year prison sentence back home in Thailand after being convicted of abusing his powers as prime minister.
red-shirted Thaksin supporters
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